I use an alcohol-free one after brushing, but honestly, not sure if it’s doing much besides making my mouth feel fresher.
Honestly, I’ve had similar doubts about mouthwash. In my experience, the biggest difference in cavity rates comes from being super consistent with brushing and flossing—especially flossing, which I’ll admit I used to skip more than I should have. I do recommend an alcohol-free rinse for people with sensitive gums or dry mouth, but I haven’t personally seen dramatic changes in cavity numbers just from adding mouthwash. It definitely helps with that clean feeling, and some rinses have fluoride, which can give a bit of extra protection.
There was a period where I tried using a fluoride rinse every night for a few months after getting a couple of cavities. My next checkup was clear, but honestly, it’s hard to say if it was the rinse or just being extra careful with everything else. For most people, it really does come down to the basics—brushing twice a day (not too hard), flossing well, and watching sugar intake. Mouthwash feels nice, but I wouldn’t rely on it as the main defense against cavities.
Yep, I hear you on the mouthwash. I used to think it was some kind of magic potion, but after decades of dental drama, it mostly just makes my mouth feel minty for ten minutes. What really moved the needle for me was finally getting religious about flossing—took me way too long to admit that, by the way. I still keep a bottle of alcohol-free rinse around for when my gums are grumpy, but if you’re brushing and flossing like a champ, you’re already ahead of where I was at your age. Keep at it... your future dentist bills will thank you.
Flossing was a total game-changer for me too—funny how it’s the thing everyone skips but ends up mattering most. I used to be all about the fancy rinses and whitening toothpastes, but honestly, none of that made a real dent in my cavity count. What finally helped was getting super consistent with brushing (electric toothbrush made a difference for me), flossing every night, and—this is the part I resisted—cutting back on snacking between meals.
I noticed my dentist started giving me less of the “you missed a spot” lecture after I switched to brushing right before bed and not eating anything after. It’s wild how just not letting sugar sit on your teeth overnight can help. I still use mouthwash sometimes, mostly when my gums feel off, but it’s more for peace of mind than anything.
And yeah, the bills... I’d rather buy floss than pay for another filling.
Cutting back on snacking definitely helps, but I’ve seen folks who still get cavities even with that, especially if they have deep grooves in their teeth or weaker enamel. Sometimes it’s less about sugar and more about how well you’re actually cleaning those tricky spots. I’ve had patients who swear by their electric brush but still miss the back molars. Honestly, technique matters just as much as frequency. And for some people, adding a fluoride rinse (not just mouthwash) at night really does tip the balance—especially if they’re prone to decay.
I swear, my teeth must have secret hiding spots because somehow I still get cavities even when I’m brushing like a maniac. I cut out the late-night chips, switched to an electric brush (which honestly feels like a tiny jackhammer), and floss like I’m prepping for a dental commercial. Still, those back molars are tricky. Has anyone tried those little rubber-tipped things or water flossers for the hard-to-reach spots? Curious if they actually make a difference or just another gadget collecting dust...