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Mouthwash

Recommended dental hygiene includes brushing after every meal. In addition, especially after consuming certain foods or spices, rinsing with a mouthwash after the meal is often desirable. Oral rinse and mouthwash compositions have been used by people for many years for the prevention of bad breath and for the elimination of bacteria and other oral microorganisms that are responsible not only for bad breath but also tooth decay, plaque and gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Mouthwashes have been designed to clean the oral cavity, provide fresh breath and kill harmful bacteria. It is generally necessary to kill certain oral bacteria that contribute to malodor or secrete acidic residues which are harmful to teeth and aid in the development of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Mouthwashes are liquid preparations specifically designed to cleanse and refresh the mouth. A wide variety of mouthwashes are available which contain various combinations of beneficial ingredients such as astringents, deodorants, antibacterial agents, healing agents, analgesics, buffers, humectants, surfactants, flavorants, preservatives, and the like. Dental caries are one of the most common afflictions known to human. The causation of dental caries is complex and includes several factors. The exposed surfaces of teeth develop a deposit of salivary proteins, food debris and bacteria, the combination of which is called dental plaque. In plaque, Streptococcus mutans, the principle etiological organism responsible for dental caries, converts dietary sugar into organic acids. These acids release hydrogen ions in the subsurface layers of enamel, creating an acidic environment. When exposed to acid, enamel loses calcium and phosphate ions and these ions can diffuse out of the enamel. If such mineral loss continues, cavities can develop. Antibacterial mouthwashes may be effective in inhibiting microorganisms found in the mouth, thus preventing caries and ameliorating infectious conditions. In many instances these microorganisms are responsible directly or indirectly for malodor.

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