If you’re diligent about flossing and brushing, mouthwash might seem optional, but it can be a key part of good oral hygiene. Brushing can remove plaque, floss can remove food particles, but only mouthwash can deliver the finishing touch that leaves your breath fresh, your mouth clean and your oral health in better shape. Whether you’ve had trouble with oral health or not, mouthwash is a valuable addition to your routine. Here are a few reasons why.

How Mouthwash Can Improve Your Health

1. It Helps Prevent Cavities

There are few things as painful and frustrating to deal with as cavities. Just as mouthwash can help remove particles and bacteria that cause bad breath, it can prevent the development of cavities, too. Mouthwash contains fluoride, which not only washes away bacteria but also strengthens enamel, helping your teeth stay strong to stop cavities from forming and helping you maintain good oral hygiene.

2. It Freshens Your Breath

If you’ve brushed and flossed, you’ve already gone a long way to remove harmful bacteria and food particles from your teeth. These habits improve your breath also, but they don’t allow you to reach everywhere. A good mouthwash gets into hard-to-reach corners of the mouth and removes particles that, if left unattended, can decompose and cause bad breath.

3. It Soothes Canker Sores

Canker sores are small, painful lesions in the mouth that can make talking and eating difficult. They’re caused by food sensitivities, minor injuries, or ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate. Luckily, a good mouthwash can detox the area around a canker sore. The alcohol content found in most mouth rinses can kill harmful bacteria around the affected area, speeding up healing, numbing painful tissue, and improving overall oral hygiene.