Who’s to blame? Micro-villains!
Beware the little guys: tiny microorganisms in your mouth can cause bad breath. Regardless of whether germs or fungi are to blame for the halitosis, antimicrobial agents work to kill and slow the growth of these microorganisms.
In addition to keeping your breath fresh, mouthrinse containing antimicrobial agents works to reduce a buildup of unsightly plaque on your teeth. It also helps to counteract gingivitis, or gum disease.
Swish and spit with mouthrinse after brushing your teeth or whenever you want to freshen your breath.
30 seconds to blast-off!
Although fluoride is added to toothpaste, a little extra exposure to this essential compound is beneficial. Fluoride protects the teeth from decay. This active ingredient also prevents the tooth enamel from white spot lesions that may eventually lead to tooth decay.
Children over the age of 6 and adults should use the mouthrinse according to label directions each time they rinse their mouths. Holding the mouthrinse in your mouth and swishing it around your teeth for 30 seconds or longer helps the fluoride reach the crevices between each tooth.
That’s fine for you, but how do you get your kids to gargle for a full half-minute? Two words: get rhythmic. Have them hum a favorite song, such as two rounds of "Jingle Bells," while swishing. You can even make it into a game. To win, the little ones aren’t allowed to spit until the song has ended.
And what should you be gargling while you’re jingling bells? If you want to be sure to protect your teeth against bad breath, plaque and gingivitis, try Colgate Plax Mouthwash. The alcohol-free formula is gentle and protects the mouth from germs for 12 hours, even when eating and drinking.