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Expert Q&A
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| By Catrise Austin Cosmetic and General Dentist | ||
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I recently read that mouthwash can actually worsen bad breath. Is this true?
Mouthwash in general is used to loosen plaque before brushing as well as to temporarily mask bad breath with flavoring. If you are using a mouthwash that contains alcohol (like most of the popular store brands), the alcohol content can actually dry out your gum tissues which can indeed lead to bad breath.
To avoid this from happening try switching to an "alcohol free mouthwash." Tom's of Maine is a natural line of oral care products that has an alcohol free mouthwash. Another popular line of products which has an alcohol free mouthwash is BreathRx created by Extreme Makeover's dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman. You will get the same great flavor withouth the risk of drying the gum tissue that may eventually cause bad breath.
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