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Gums & Gum Disease
On almost any surface, a thin layer of bacteria known as biofilm can stick. That’s why your gums and teeth feel like they’ve been covered in slime when you wake up in the morning. Biofilm is normal and happens to everyone—even if you brush, floss and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash. But when you don’t remove the biofilm on a daily basis, it can build and develop into dental plaque.
Dental plaque which could lead to gum disease is made up of some bad bacteria (the kind that thrives on sugar left behind on gums and teeth and turns into tooth-decaying acid) and some good bacteria (the kind that makes normal biofilm less enticing to acid-hungry bacteria).
A person with super-solid home dental care, who brushes, flosses, and swishes daily, can control and minimize the size of the biofilm, and potentially make it even healthier by increasing the amount of good bacteria it contains. But when you clean and rinse your gums and teeth less frequently, biofilm (typically pale yellow in color) can harden into tartar and gets thicker which only dentists and their professional tools can remove. Stick to your rinsing routine to keep your biofilm in its healthier condition.
Back to topWhen you’re concerned about your gums and start researching, it quickly gets confusing, with multiple technical medical terms being used to refer to the same thing—gum disease. Here’s how the terms are linked: Gum disease is the broad-stroke, general term used to describe the bacterial infection in your mouth. Both gingivitis and periodontitis are words used to describe gum disease—but the words are not interchangeable and do not mean exactly the same thing. Gingivitis describes early, mild (and reversible) gum disease, the kind marked by red, swollen gums that bleed easily when brushed or flossed. If gingivitis is not addressed by improved mouth care, it can progress and develop into the more serious (non-reversible) stage of gum disease called periodontitis, which attacks gums, bone and the connective tissue that holds teeth in place, eventually loosening them over time to the point that they could fall out. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. That’s why it’s best to address gum issues early by hammering down a foolproof rinse routine.
Back to topAs we age, it’s increasingly common to see a drop or two of blood in the sink after brushing or flossing–so commonplace that many of us convince ourselves it’s not a big deal. But bleeding gums—even during a dentist cleaning—are not normal and not healthy. They’re a sign—possibly along with other often-missed red alerts like puffy, red, irritated gums—of gingivitis (early gum disease). Millions of adults have some form of gum disease, yet only a very small fraction realize it because gum pain is not an early symptom. The good news: early-stage gum disease is reversible, through improved daily mouth care and more frequent visits to the dentist for plaque and tartar removal with professional tools. But left ignored, blood in the sink can progress to serious gum disease (periodontitis) that attacks gums, erodes the jawbone and is the number-one reason teeth fall out. If you’ve spotted droplets, don’t wait another day to start improving your brush, floss and rinse routine.
Back to topAlways check the ingredients on your mouthwash bottle and look for germ-fighting ingredients that combat gum disease, like LISTERINE® Antiseptic Mouthwash (which has eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate and thymol — four essential oils that are clinically proven to kill the germs that cause gum disease). Using antiseptic rinse regularly will fight bacteria that can cling to your gums and form plaque. When plaque is not attacked, it can harden into tartar. Some mouthwashes also contain fluoride, which protects teeth from decay.
Back to topIt’s best to use LISTERINE® mouthwash twice daily, as directed. The combination of ingredients in LISTERINE® Antiseptic Mouthwash is extremely effective in killing bacteria above the gum line as well as reducing sticky plaque film and early gum disease (gingivitis), which can lead to serious, advanced gum disease if left unattended (hence its powerful zing when you swish). Use LISTERINE® mouthwash twice daily for 24-hour protection from gum disease-causing bacteria.
Back to topCavities & Strong Teeth
Tartar is basically plaque that has been left untreated and worsened into a harder surface on the teeth that only dentists can remove. Plaque is a thick film on teeth comprised of saliva and trapped food particles that build up on the gum line. If plaque is not removed every day by gentle brushing, flossing and rinsing with powerful LISTERINE® antiseptic mouthwash, it can harden into tartar. The acid from plaque can attack teeth soon after meals; if not cleaned away it can break through enamel and lead to cavities. Plaque also harms gums and can lead to red, swollen gums that bleed when brushed, or even lead to receding gums.
Tartar is hard and crusty and porous. It is yellow or brownish in color and appears on the gum line. Tartar is plaque that was not removed and has hardened from mineral deposits in saliva. Tartar buildup causes cavities, tooth decay and tooth loss as well as gum disease. It continues to grow and calcify if not removed. Tartar can only be removed from your teeth by dentists and their professional tools. Brushing, flossing, rinsing with LISTERINE® mouthwash and using a tartar-control toothpaste can prevent this.
Back to topFluoride is a naturally occurring element known to prevent tooth decay when ingested or applied to teeth as a topical solution. Fluoride can help reduce the number of cavities in teeth. The acid in plaque leads to mineral loss in the tooth (demineralization), which leads to tooth decay. The formation of cavities, however, can be reversed by remineralization, or the deposit of minerals on damaged areas of the tooth. Application of topical fluoride can speed up this restoration of lost minerals.
When fluoride is ingested by the stomach and intestines, it is absorbed by the body to make teeth stronger. It is often found in drinking water in high enough quantities to reduce cavities, depending on which area of the country you are in (and whether you drink tap or filtered/bottled water). You can also get small amounts of fluoride by eating certain foods, such as spinach, carrots, asparagus, most seafood, tea and food prepared in fluoridated water, or by using a fluoride toothpaste and LISTERINE®fluoride rinse.
Back to topYes, it is a less commonly known fact that baby teeth are less dense than permanent teeth and wear down faster. They are also whiter than permanent teeth (also called second teeth or adult teeth). Adult teeth are naturally a little more yellow in color.
Back to topWhile baby teeth are whiter than permanent teeth, the enamel and dentin layers in baby teeth are thinner than those in adult teeth. The pulp is also bigger relative to the rest of the tooth, meaning that when your child gets a cavity it can reach the nerve of the tooth much faster, which makes dental checkups for children extremely important. Baby teeth also have shorter roots and aren't anchored as well in the bone, allowing them to fall out more easily. This also gives the root of permanent teeth more room to grow underneath the baby teeth.
Back to topYes, you should rinse your dentures and brush away food particles and debris twice daily. Use dental tablets that dissolve in water and soak dentures in the cleaning solution in a container. Always clean dentures over a soft towel or basin half full of water, as they can be slippery and easily break if they fall. Brush with a soft-bristle brush in lukewarm water. Thoroughly clean the denture. Rinse with LISTERINE®mouthwash after to keep the mouth feeling fresh and clean. When not in your mouth, dentures should be soaked in mouthwash.
Back to topTo keep the bacterial damage minimal when wearing dental appliances, many orthodontists advise people who wear orthodontic appliances to rinse twice daily with LISTERINE® mouthwash, but the appliances themselves do not necessarily need to be soaked in mouthwash.
Back to topFresh Breath
Yes, persistent bad breath may be a byproduct of other medical conditions. Common ailments like acid reflux and heartburn could leave a bad taste in your mouth. In other cases, bacteria and mucus buildup from a sinus infection could be what’s causing the issue. Slightly fruity breath that isn’t wholly pleasant or offensive is a telltale sign of diabetes, while a strong, ammonia scent has been linked to kidney disease.
Periodontal diseases like gingivitis can cause bad breath because of the presence of excess bacteria in the mouth. And dry mouth, which causes a decrease in saliva, leaves your mouth unable to naturally flush bacteria and food particles from your teeth and gums before they break down and start to decay.
If you’re worried your bad breath might be a sign of a bigger issue, or if you’re just unable to tame it yourself by brushing, flossing and rinsing, talk to your dentist.
Back to topWhen it comes to habits that can cause bad breath, few rank higher than tobacco use. Just the act of smoking alone, not to mention the associated health risks, is enough to leave your mouth tasting—and smelling—like an ashtray. Having a high-sugar diet doesn’t help, either; the natural bacteria in your mouth will feast on the excess sugars and redecorate your teeth and gums with bacteria buildup. Carbohydrate-cutting diets can often double your chances of bad breath as your body increases its production of ammonia to try and metabolize food. People who fast or skip meals regularly run a different kind of risk: chewing helps stimulate saliva, which helps prevent your mouth from getting dry and smelling stale. When you stop for long periods of time, your breath can begin to smell. Dry mouth also affects people who regularly breathe through their mouths, putting them in the unenviable position of having bad breath. Finally, people who are overstressed can wind up having unpleasant breath.
Back to topYes and no. Since bad breath is often caused by dry mouth, chewing sugar-free gum can be a great way to get those saliva glands going. Not only will it help to flush out bacteria, saliva also helps usher unwanted food particles from your mouth before they can break down in your mouth.
Gums, candies and mints that are loaded with sugar, however, are not going to help. They may mask the odor, but they’ll do little to actually kill the bacteria that are causing your breath to smell. That’s because the sugar sticks to your teeth and gums where it can both break down to cause additional odor and increase plaque buildup. More plaque equals even more bad breath.
Your best bet is to brush, floss and rinse twice daily. This will ensure your mouth is optimally clean.
Back to topUnless you’re rinsing with a garlic and blue cheese-flavored variety, no mouthwash will cause your breath to stink. In fact, studies show LISTERINE® Antiseptic Mouthwash may even help get saliva flowing faster, thereby preventing dry mouth (which is linked to bad breath). For best results use LISTERINE® mouthwash twice daily, as directed, for 24-hour protection from bacteria.
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