The short answer to this is No, unless you have been advised to or prescribed one by your dentist or GP. Lots of people like to finish off their oral hygiene routine, toothbrushing and then interdental cleaning (we all know we should do this but lots of people skip this part!) with rinsing with a mouthwash.
Your mouth will feel fresher after using a mouthwash, but it does not remove plaque and will wash the Fluoride in the toothpaste away. This is why we advise patients to spit not rinse after brushing. See our previous post on how to reduce decay for further information.
What types of mouthwash are there?
The first type of mouthwash is Chlorhexidine. We will sometimes recommend patients use this, but if this is used long term it can cause brown staining and affect your taste.
The second mouthwash is one that contains Fluoride. We recommend patients who are undergoing fixed braces use this as it is more difficult to clean your teeth and patients can end up with permanent squares on their teeth once the braces are removed. The other reason we will recommend this is for patients who are suffering from erosion. We also advise patients to use this type of mouthwash at a different time to brushing.
The third type of mouthwash will be prescribed by your dentist or GP for specific mouth conditions.
If you have any questions or concerns speak to your Dentist or Hygienist for further information.