For many people, using mouthwash is one of the tasks of their daily and nighttime routine. Mouthwash has the ability to make them feel reassured that their teeth are getting the full, complete care they need, as it wipes out every single germ that brushing left behind. Not only that, but the strong flavor makes their mouths feel completely refreshed; bad breath gone. It also gives their mouths such an undeniably noticeable clean feeling that can’t be ignored one bit.

Although it has the ability to give us a confidence boost on the daily, do we really need mouthwash? Should it be used at all?

Mouthwash, like many things, has a negative side. It can have serious health and oral health risks. It can be a bacteria destroyer. It kills all the bacteria in your mouth. This may sound like a good thing, but our bodies have both good bacteria and bad bacteria, and only few in the mouth are bad. Lack of good bacteria makes it riskier to develop things like cavities and gingivitis because your oral microorganisms are not getting any support.

It might also be surprising to find out that some mouthwashes are simply sources of sodium. The specific name that you’ll find in this kind of mouthwash is sodium lauryl sulphate, and while it can get your teeth really clean, it’s bad if it is swallowed. Consuming high levels of sodium is very bad for your health, and you want be very careful if you use a mouthwash high in sodium.

On top of this, mouthwash gets in the way of your mouth’s saliva production and dries your mouth out. Saliva is more important than you think. Not only does it help you swallow food, it helps with remineralization, which helps to naturally prevent and reverse cavities. That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?

Additionally, mouthwashes that contain alcohol might increase your risk for oral cancer, especially if you are a smoker.

Luckily, there is a way to to avoid the risks and consequences of using mouthwash. Try to make smarter decisions on what mouthwash to get. When buying mouthwash, be sure that you don’t get any that has alcohol, chlorine dioxide, chlorhexidine, cocamidopropyl betaine, parabens, poloxamer 407, formaldehyde, and saccharin. Look into natural mouthwashes, mouthwashes that will more likely not contain any harmful ingredients. They will not whiten your teeth or get rid of your bad breath for good, but they should be much safer than the ones we are familiar with that are an antiseptic or antibacterial, such as Listerine.

Mouthwash can be used as a part of our daily and nightly routines, but it should just be used wisely. If you choose to stick to antiseptic mouthwashes, be careful with how often you use it. If you wish to use one often, like every day and night, side with natural brands so you and your mouth will be happy.