October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and if you’re brushing and flossing thoroughly each day, you’re already taking great care of your oral health! If you want to take it to an even higher level, adding a new mouth rinse system to your routine can help. What is it, and why should you use it? Our own Mistie Dodson, RDH has answers.
What is the OraCare Health Rinse system?
OraCare Health Rinse is a mouth rinse system consisting of two parts, with active ingredients of activated chlorine dioxide and xylitol. The chlorine dioxide serves as a disinfectant to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi; while the xylitol prevents the growth of bacteria that contributes to cavities. You might be familiar with xylitol, which is found in many sugarless chewing gums and candies. Using xylitol regularly can change your mouth’s bacteria and make it harder for harmful bacteria to survive.
Why should patients use this rinse system? Is it a preventative treatment, or does it help improve specific issues?
This product is an adjunct to regular flossing and brushing. If you’re doing those things regularly, you’re doing great! But you could still be missing certain spots that are difficult to reach and clean. This rinse can help clean the places that your usual routine doesn’t reach.
The rinse system has two solutions that must be mixed—why?
There are two rinses to be mixed together; the solution with xylitol activates the one containing chlorine dioxide. This is because chlorine dioxide is a gas, and must be activated when you’re ready to use it.
How easy is it to use this rinse?
It’s easy and fast. The product comes with a measuring cup and instructions on how much to mix together. You mix the rinses, wait 30 seconds, swish it in your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit it out. It’s really that easy, and we recommend that patients use it twice a day.
Who can use this rinse system—only adults, or children as well?
Both! It’s safe for everyone—kids, and adults of all ages including elderly adults. It’s also safe for those who are pregnant.
Do you recommend it for patients who brush and floss daily and don’t have dental health issues?
Everyone can use it as part of their regular oral care routine. We specifically recommend it for patients who have:
- Appliances and braces that aren’t removable
- Cold sores/mouth ulcers
- Dry mouth/bad breath
- Gum disease
- Implants
- Thrush
Appliances and braces often make it difficult to clean certain areas through flossing and brushing alone, and the rinse system can help clean those areas. In the cases of mouth sores, dry mouth, and gum disease, using the rinse system can greatly help to reduce harmful bacteria that often appear with these conditions.
Will using this rinse actually help heal mouth sores or improve bad breath?
OraCare Health Rinse won’t actually heal a mouth sore, but it does help kill the viruses and bacteria that cause mouth sores, and in that sense it can be used as a kind of preventative measure.
Bad breath can happen despite regular brushing and flossing. Special diets, gum disease, and dry mouth are just a few of the factors that can cause bad breath. For those with dry mouth, this rinse is a good preventative measure against tooth decay.
Would underlying health issues preclude a patient from using it? Are there side effects?
No, this is one of the best things about this product. It’s safe for kids, and safe for adults of all ages, including pregnant people and the elderly. It doesn’t cause any side effects.
Other mouth rinses that contain an ingredient called chlorhexidine have side effects, and they’re not safe for children and pregnant people. In addition, products with chlorhexidine can also stain teeth, but OraCare Health Rinse won’t.
Additionally, the makers of this product offer a program where they provide it to chemotherapy patients free of charge. The rinse can help with the mouth sores and other oral discomfort that chemo might cause.
Can this rinse system be safely used with dentures?
Yes, it’s completely safe for use with dentures as well as implants, and Dr. Gio is actively introducing it to our implant patients. (He always tells patients that this is a great insurance policy for their implants. After all, they’ve invested considerably in the implants and this will help them last longer.) It’s also a great product to guard against fungal infections that dentures can sometimes cause.
Is it available only from dentists?
Yes, the OraCare Health Rinse system is only available from dentists, and Winchester Dental is one of the first practices in Winchester to offer this product. Also important to note: Anything you find online that may look similar isn’t the real product, so we encourage you to ask us about it. Patients who have invested in crowns, bridges, dentures and implants may especially find that this is an easy and inexpensive way to help maintain their oral hygiene. We’re happy to offer it at our cost (about $1 per day)—no markup.
Want to know more? Give us a call or schedule your next visit!