Major points

1. Mouthwash is used to clean and inhibit dental plaque or mold, reduce the growth of oral flora.

2. Pour mouthwash in the mouth, gargle for about 30 seconds, and then spit it out. There is no need to rinse the mouth again. Do not drink water and do not eat within half an hour.

3. The frequency of using mouthwash is twice a day. Tooth brushing cannot be replaced by using mouthwash.

 

Why do I need to use mouthwash?

Who needs to use mouthwash?
Patients who are receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy, as well as those after treatment, to help reduce oral bacterial growth and infections and promote the restoration of oral health.

Goods Required:

1. Choose a suitable mouthwash as directed by your doctor.
2. Prepare cooled boiled water.
3. Use a small medicine cup and a curved washbasin.
   

Steps:

1. General gargle:
   1. Rinse and clean the mouth with cooled boiled water.
   2. Pour 10-20 cc of mouthwash into a small medicine cup.
   3. Pour mouthwash in the mouth, gargle for about 30 seconds, and then spit it out. There is no need to rinse the mouth with cold boiled water again.
   4.  Do not drink water and do not eat within half an hour after rinsing your mouth with mouthwash.
2. Syringe mouthwash rinsing method:
   1. Take a 20 cc syringe and an 18-gauge soft needle to draw 10-20 cc of mouthwash (Figure 1).
      
      
      
      
   2. Insert the soft needle between the teeth or from the corner of the mouth and then slowly inject the mouthwash for rinsing.
   3. After gargling with mouthwash for about 30 seconds, tilt the head slightly to the healthy side to allow the solution to flow out from the corner of the mouth to the curved washbasin.
   4. If the patient is unable to spit out the mouthwash independently, then the caregiver needs to be guided by the nursing personnel to use an oral suction tube to draw out the mouthwash at low pressure (40-60 mmHg) to avoid touching the wound (Figure 2). 

      
3. Frequency: twice a day.

 

Care principles:

1. Long-term use of mouthwash will still cause side effects such as pigmentation on teeth, tongue, and resin dentures as well as temporarily influence tastes. Therefore, long-term use is not recommended. If necessary, it should be prescribed by a physician after evaluation.
2. It is recommended to use soft-bristled toothbrushes and other auxiliary tools(such as dental floss, sponge toothbrush)to implement mechanical cleaning methods to remove plaque and maintain oral cleanliness. Tooth brushing cannot be replaced by chemical inhibitors, such as mouthwash.
3. Oral ulcer patients should not use mouthwash with alcohol.

 

References

1. Brookes, Z., McCulloug, M., Kumar, P., & McGrath, C. (2023). Mouthwashes: Implications for practice. International Dental Journal, 73(Suppl 2), S98-S101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2023.08.013
   
2. Dallaserra, M., Poblete, F., Vergara, C., Cortés, R., Araya, I., Yanine, N., & Villanueva, J. (2020). Infectious postoperative complications in oral surgery. An observational study. Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry, 12(1), e65. https://doi.10.4317/medoral.55982
3. Kim, Y. J., Gil, Y. M., Bae, K. H., Kim, S. J., Ihm, J., & Cho, H. J. (2022). The use of interdental cleaning devices and periodontal disease contingent on the number of remaining teeth in Korean adults. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 13853. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17885-7.
4. Navabi, N., Afshari, Z., Kamyabi, H., & Mohammadi, M. (2024). Side effects and short effects of using three common mouthwashes on oral health and quality of life: A quasi-experimental study. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 22(3), 681-688. https://doi.org/10.1111/idh.12761