Been thinking... if you suddenly ran out of mouthwash and couldn't buy more for like a month, would your dental health really suffer? Or is brushing and flossing enough on its own? Curious how you'd handle that scenario.
"Been thinking... if you suddenly ran out of mouthwash and couldn't buy more for like a month, would your dental health really suffer?"
Honestly, I had this exact situation happen during a trip once. Ran out of mouthwash and just stuck with brushing and flossing for about three weeks. At first, it felt weird—like something was missing from my routine—but after a few days, I didn't even notice anymore. When I finally got back home and saw my dentist shortly after, she said everything looked fine.
I think mouthwash is nice for freshness and extra peace of mind, but it's probably more of a bonus than a necessity if your brushing and flossing game is solid. Definitely wouldn't stress too much about it if you run out temporarily... your teeth won't stage a rebellion overnight or anything, haha.
Had a similar experience when I moved apartments and forgot to restock mouthwash for like a month. Honestly, didn't notice any big difference either. I did miss that minty-fresh feeling after brushing, though—felt like something was incomplete without it. But dental-wise, nothing changed noticeably.
Makes me wonder if certain types of mouthwash might be more beneficial than others—like fluoride vs non-fluoride, or alcohol-free vs regular. Maybe the type matters more than frequency? Curious if anyone's dentist ever specifically recommended one kind over another for actual dental health reasons instead of just freshness...
My dentist actually did mention something about this recently. She said alcohol-free mouthwash tends to be gentler, especially if you have sensitive gums or dry mouth issues. Apparently, alcohol-based ones can dry out your mouth, which ironically might make bad breath worse over time... Fluoride mouthwashes were recommended mainly if you're prone to cavities, but otherwise she didn't seem too fussed about daily use. Seems like it's more about personal dental needs than just freshness.
