Mad at my mouthwash!

[beckyboo0205]

BLURG...... Do I really need to use mouthwash? or a Flouride rinse or whatever you want to call it?

I never used to use mouthwash before braces... so then I started... to try to be a good patient. Well I got that Crest Pro Health junk that left those weird blue clumps everywhere and is rumored to leave brown staining. Eventually I decided to switch to this green ACT flouride stuff. Well I did notice some brown staining. Thankfully the hygenist was just able to clean alot of that off just the other day. However, I just looked at my ACT bottle (which is a brand new gigantic bottle) and it has that same stuff which everyone says leaves the brown stains. Cetylpyrindium Chloride or whatever.

I guess I don't know why I figured the green stuff would be better. Maybe cause everyone seemed to say it was the blue stuff. Stupidly, the first ingredient in the GREEN ACT stuff is Blue. BLAH... So I'm annoyed now and mad that it's a waste of money (even though I'm sure it wasn't THAT much.) And the brown stains came off but I still don't want them again... All of the complaints I have read have been about the Crest Pro Health... so is ACT better with that even though that same thing is in it?

So, I mean, do I really even need mouthwash!?

[Timetoshine]

Oh I feel for you.

I think it depends on your ortho - there is no right or wrong answer here. My ortho has said NO - don't use mouthwash - no need to on my teeth, and just to use salt and warm water if anything.

I use Savacol in his surgery when I see him before my adjustment and thats it. He said if I was desperate to, then I should use standard Listerine with alcohol to kill the bugs, but never use Savacol on a regular basis as it can stain.

Hope this helps.

[sirwired]

My experience is that any amount of CPC in the mouthwash causes staining. (The color of the food dye doesn't make a whole lot of difference.)

If you'd like additional fluoride, and you have decent Rx Drug Coverage, ask your dentist or ortho to write you an Rx for prescription toothpaste. (Mine has me on Prevident 5000 Sensitive, but there are several formulations.)

[beckyboo0205]

Well before braces, I was always told I do very good with cleaning my teeth and everything. Never used mouthwash. Then after I got braces, like right after, I asked the ortho assistant if I should be using mouthwash and she said "Oh you should always use mouthwash." Ehh ok. So that's why I got it. I mean, isn't every dentist or whatever going to try to push it? Maybe not.

Anyhow, last night after I did my rant on here, I told my husband what I discovered and that I though I was getting this good deal on this giant bottle, when really I realized it said to use it 2x/day, whereas my other smaller bottle (which was the same stuff) said 1x/day. I didn't realize that... more flouride in the 1x/day. But then I also realized that my toothpaste has 0.243% flouride but the mouthwash only has like 0.02% (that's the 2x/day one) So what's the point!? I just don't know... maybe I'll email the lady at the ortho's office. Just seems like a dumb question but why do the extra step if it's going to stain my teeth or something...

[BraceFace2o1o]

I used to use mouthwash in the very beginning of braces (didn't really keep up with it much prior to braces) but found it difficult to buy one without the ingredients that cause staining. When I did manage to find one it was hard to get hold of and cost too much in petrol/delivery to buy it so I sort of just stopped using mouthwash. I've been in braces 2 years 8 months and probably used mouth wash for the first 6ish months and no more. So I just brush and floss and that is it.

[Dervish]

I use Dentyl, it does gunk stuff up but I think that it sticks and keeps things fresher for longer. I've got linguals though so might be more of a pain for ones on the front.

[TMJJill]

My orthodontist isn't into fluoride. Hi is into really good hygiene and a nutritious diet. He also prefers natural products without so many chemicals. I can't remember a lot of the brands he uses. I think Tom's of Maine is one of the brands I've seen.

He doesn't push his philosophies so I use the regular brand stuff, but reading a lot of the literature in his lobby on how there are a lot of chemicals that cause stress on the body really is interesting. (My way of oversimplifying his large library.)

[fosterp]

haven't used any mouthwash for my entire treatment, and my gums are always looking good at checkups

invest in a waterpik if you want to dodge the mouthwash dilemma

I really don't understand why these things aren't pushed more by dentists/orthodontists. They are seriously the silver bullet for gum health and extremely cheap.

[beckyboo0205]

I ended up emailing the Ortho's office and asking. They said I didn't have to. I do however have this giant bottle and I hate wasting things... so I might use it until it's done.

I do have a Waterpik and loooove it! Mostly just to spray everything out of my teeth after I eat. Like oatmeal! Stuff EVERYWHERE!

[TMJJill]

I agree. Gotta love the Waterpik. Only those of us here would be fascinated about the 'icky' stuff that finds its way out when we use it though.

[djspeece]

When I am feeling very sporty I occasionally use mix of Listerine Total Care & water in my waterpik. Just be sure to run some plain water through it afterwards.

[psily]

I was also a victim of the stupid Crest Pro Health mouthwash (ugh!). It totally stained my bottom teeth. I dumped that immediately, then also used ACT. Didn't realize that stuff also has CPC. Dumped that also!

However, I still like to use mouthwash after brushing, so I picked up Colgate Phosflur. Expensive stuff but works great so far (lots of good reviews too). It's a fluoride rinse without all that staining ingredients (CPC, stannous fluoride). It's $12, but you can print a $5 off coupon from their website.

Probably don't really need mouthwash, but I like the extra clean feeling.

[Alee]

I use crest 3d White, it doesn't have that cpc stuff, or fluoride, I think its just to fight stains, but I love it! It gets all foamy and its minty, and has no alcohol. I hate mouth wash w alcohol, but I do occasionally rinse with peroxide, mixed w water. It tingles, and bubbles, but.I always feel my mouth is super clean and degermed after!