Mouthwashes - How Effective They Really Are

Jacob Silvester

2/1/2011

Acknowledgements

Mrs Molloy,

For the endless amount of help she gave in helping us organise and carry out our experiment as well as every little question she answered for us.

Steph Jarvis and Riccardo Valenza,

For assisting us in testing the mouthwashes.

Prep room People???

Introduction:

In a recent study, Medic8.com (2010) found that around 10 million dollars is spent on mouthwash every year by Americans alone. But is all this money just a waste? Mouthwashes are a liquid which is used to rinse away plaque and bacteria from the teeth. They are generally used after tooth brushing. There are mixed opinions about mouthwash, as some people believe it to be vitally important and effective, others believe it is simply a waste of money and does not have any real effect.

Mouthwash was originally invented in 1879 as a surgical antiseptic, only later was it used for oral care around 1895. One of the first brands of mouthwash was Listerine which was named after Joseph Lister. Some believe him to be the 'Father of modern antiseptics' due to his discoveries in the field of sterile surgery. According to medic8.com (2010), there are 4 different types of mouthwash including Fluoride, Cosmetic, Antiseptic and Natural. All mouthwashes are thought to prevent, and get rid of bad breath. Fluoride mouthwashes contain sodium fluoride which helps to strengthen the teeth as well as add extra protection against tooth decay. Cosmetic mouthwashes are more for appearance than anything else, as they don't offer the same protection as other types and are used more as a way to disguise bad breath. They help to keep teeth clean but do not reduce the risk of tooth decay or strengthen teeth. Antiseptic washes contain a chemical which stops the growth of bacteria and can be useful for people with mouth infections. The final type, natural mouthwashes are usually homemade and can be something as simple as salt in warm water. This particular mouthwash can be helpful for mouth ulcers or infections. Some more powerful mouthwashes contain alcohol, the alcohol in mouthwash is added to help dissolve the other ingredients, and to aid penetration of plaque on the teeth. According to Medic8.com (2010) Alcohol can make mouthwashes more powerful but can be less healthy than normal types due to the possibility of liver damage and dangers of overuse.

There are millions of bacteria held in the mouth at all times and each different type has various effects on the mouth. One example is Streptococcus mutans, which causes tooth decay. This bacteria digests the sugars and starches in foods to produce acids which dissolve tooth enamel. Another bacteria is Prevotella histicola, which thrives in the flesh lining of the mouth, and is believed to contribute to tooth decay as well as gum disease. Bad breath is nearly always caused by the decay of food particles that are not removed from the mouth by brushing and flossing. Mouth bacteria use these particles as food, and they produce waste which gives off the odour. Mouthwashes are thought to assist this