Who doesn’t love that minty taste that comes from a swig of mouthwash? Not only does it refresh the palate, but it may also contain different health benefits. Look at the label of your favorite mouthwash and you’ll probably discover that it’s a teeth whitener or plaque zapper. But are these claims true? Is your mouthwash really good for your overall oral hygiene?

Before you crack the seal on your new bottle of oral rinse, see below for a list of pros and cons of using mouthwash:

The Pros:

• Reduce cavities: Rinsing with a fluoride rinse can help reduce cavities.
• Ward off gum disease: When someone suffers from gingivitis, the gums and tooth sockets can get inflamed or even infected. Using an antibacterial mouthwash, like one with chlorhexidine may help prevent periodontal disease.

The Cons

Mouthwash is not a cure all by any means. In fact, there are situations when it should be avoided:

• Canker sore irritant: If you suffer from canker sores, reaching for your favorite mouthwash may cause more harm than good.
• Mask an underlying problem: Chronic bad breath is often a precursor for an underlying dental issue. Rinsing with mouthwash will not alleviate severe halitosis; it only masks the problem.

If you’re not sure which what type of mouthwash best suits you, think about your current dental hygiene needs. If your goal is fresher breath, you can ask your dentist, family or even friends for suggestions.

Most mouthwashes come in various flavors like mint and cinnamon. You may also opt for mouthwash that is specifically formulated to control plaque or kill bacteria.

Keep in mind that rinsing with mouthwash without brushing is like mopping a floor without sweeping it first. The only way to remove plaque and tartar is to follow a proper dental regimen. Even though it’s best to brush after every meal, it’s also perfectly okay to brush and rinse every morning and night before going to sleep.

The Bottom Line

Mouthwash should not be used as a substitute for proper dental hygiene. Even if it’s helpful is reducing the risk of cavities and periodontal disease, it needs to be used in conjunction a proper oral hygiene regimen and regular dental checkups.

When your children are babies, teething can be a trying time for both parents and children alike, but once they turn 3, most children have their primary teeth. Around the age of 6 years old, baby teeth start to fall out to make room for their permanent adult teeth. By the time your child turns 13, all their baby teeth have fallen out and their adult teeth have come in.

Some children get excited when they have a loose tooth, especially if they are waiting for the Tooth Fairy. On the other hand, other children may be afraid that losing their tooth will hurt. Losing baby teeth is far less pain than having them come in, but it can still be challenging-particularly if the loose tooth seems to be hanging on forever. Although it’s best to let nature takes its course and have the tooth fall out on its own, there are times when divine intervention is needed.

So, what’s the best way to help remove a loose tooth that doesn’t involve a string, a doorknob and a slamming door? Check out five easy ways to extract a loose tooth sans string and a doorknob.

1. Wiggling the tooth:Have your child wiggle their loose tooth with their tongue or using a back-and-forth motion with CLEAN fingers. This is probably the most painless and can easiest way to help the process along.
2. Eating hard foods:Foods that are harder to chew, such as crisp apples or crunchy carrots will make the entire process quick and painless.
3. Using dental floss:If the tooth is very loose but won’t come out naturally, try gently wedging dental floss in between the gum line and the tooth and yank outward. For a better grip, you can use a flossing pick.
4. Gently use tweezers:Another way to remove your child’s loose tooth if it’s very loose is using clean tweezers. This works well when the tooth is very loose but doesn’t won’t come out. You can gently wiggle the tooth free with sterilized tweezers. This is also an excellent way to avoid possible bacterial contamination from busy little fingers.
5. Use Sterile Gauze: If you’re apprehensive of putting point tweezers in your little one’s mouth, you can use a piece of sterile gauze to grip the tooth and gently twist it. If this causes pain or if the tooth doesn’t seem to want to move, you can try to loosen it a little more with gentle twisting motions.

If all else fails and the tooth won’t budge, simply let it fall out on its own. This is the best option even for those impatient kiddos waiting for the Tooth Fairy! Remind them that even though they are eager to see what they will find under their pillow, trying to remove a tooth that isn’t ready to come out can cause dental issues down the road.