Courtesy of womansday.com

The germ-killing mouthwashes, such as Listerine, constantly say in their commercials that using them works better than brushing alone, but now there’s research to prove it. Please note the stipulation that mouthwashes need to be used in conjunction with brushing your teeth.

“It’s simple—mouthrinses can reach nearly 100 percent of the mouth’s surfaces, while brushing focuses on the teeth, which make up only 25 percent of the mouth,” says Christine A. Charles, RDH, BS, lead author of the study and director of Scientific and Professional Affairs, Global Consumer Healthcare Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson Consumer and Personal Products Worldwide. “Even with regular brushing and flossing, bacteria often are left behind.”

The research team found that when using a mouthwash that kills germs twice a day, in addition to brushing your teeth, it significantly reduces the amount of plaque that builds up, and it even significantly lowers the risk of developing gingivitis.

The study lasted for six months and involved 139 adults diagnosed with mild to moderate plaque build-up and gingivitis. The participants were separated into two groups, with one group using a germ-killing mouthwash twice a day when brushing their teeth and the second group using a mouthwash twice a day that does not kill germs.[..Read More]

The average office worker wakes up rather early, rushes to the office, eats at his or her desk, and often works over 8 hours a day. As such, they rarely eat the typical three meals-a-day regimen other people adhere to and society has thrust upon us. While most nutritionists and health nuts agree that eating several small meals or snacks throughout the day is healthier for people, especially when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, many dentists find that office workers who snack all day are at a higher risk for poor dental health.

Dentists have found that people who snack during the day are at a higher risk, because constant snacking prevents the mouth from naturally stabilizing its pH levels, and constant snacking exposes the teeth to acids from foods more often than those who only eat three meals a day.

Not to mention, it’s highly unlikely office workers are taking the time to brush their teeth and floss in between snacks. In fact, in this survey, more than 20% of the office workers examined admitted that they skip brushing their teeth regularly as part of their early morning rush routine to get to work. And if they do brush regularly, 88% of those surveyed brush their teeth for less than the recommended two minutes.[..Read More]