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At What Age Should A Child See A Dentist?

  • Posted On  May 13, 2013
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At What Age Should A Child See A Dentist?

As a parent, you want to protect your child from everything that will hurt him. You want to ensure that he’s healthy and happy. It’s important to pay attention to his dental health starting at a very young age. Here are the recommendations for children’s dental visits.

When the first tooth appears…

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you take your child to the dentist for a first checkup as soon as his first tooth erupts. He should return for checkups every six months afterwards. Though baby teeth are temporary, their health is very important. Your child will have his first teeth until he’s at least five, and they provide a foundation for adult teeth.

The first visit puts your child at ease.

Visiting the dentist at a very young age is beneficial for more reasons than just dental health. Your child will become accustomed to the dental office, the dentist and his staff. When they start at a young age, the experience of having a checkup and cleaning become routine and kids learn to look forward to visiting their dentist.

What to expect at your child’s first dental visit.

Your dentist will perform an exam to feel for your child’s remaining baby teeth. He may take X-rays if he is concerned about the placement of the teeth. Your dentist will talk to you about oral hygiene and show you how to brush your child’s teeth and gums to keep them healthy. He may recommend a fluoride supplement, depending on your location and the amount of fluoride in your tap water. Your dentist may also recommend sealants for your child’s teeth, once all of his baby teeth have appeared.

Dental visits in addition to normal checkups.

In addition to regular exams and cleanings every six months, your child should see the dentist if any of the following occurs:

  • Tooth pain
  • Dental injury that results in chipping, cracking or a tooth falling out
  • Discoloration of teeth
  • Baby or permanent teeth that don’t descend
  • Habitual thumb-sucking past the age of three

Daily care of your child’s first teeth

Before your child’s first teeth erupt, wipe his gums gently with a clean, damp cloth at least twice per day. You can also use a soft toothbrush specially made for infants. Once the first tooth appears, brush it and the gums gently with fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristle children’s toothbrush. Use only a very small amount of toothpaste and make sure your child spits out any excess.

Ensure that your child is getting proper nutrition for healthy teeth. A balanced diet with strict limits on sugary foods and drinks will set your child up for a lifetime of dental health.

At What Age Do Kids Lose Their Baby Teeth?

  • Posted On  April 30, 2013
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At What Age Do Kids Lose Their Baby Teeth?

Once your child’s friends start losing their baby teeth, he’ll be eager to lose his as well. It’s a rite of passage that means a visit from the Tooth Fairy and a little bit of money under the pillow. Not all children lose teeth at the same age, however.

Kindergarten and First Grade

Walk into any kindergarten or first grade classroom, and you’ll find a bunch of gap-toothed smiles. The most common age for children to begin losing teeth is age 6; the age of early-elementary school. If your child loses a tooth during the school day, odds are that his teacher will have a special envelope or small case in her desk so that the tooth doesn’t get lost.

Which Teeth Fall Out First?

Baby teeth usually fall out in roughly the same order that they first came in. The two middle top and bottom front teeth fall out first, followed by the teeth next to the middle teeth (the incisors), then the first molars.

Your child will lose baby teeth until around age twelve.

The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene

Proper oral care is crucial from the time your child is a baby, throughout his life. Though baby teeth will fall out and be replaced, they should be brushed twice per day and flossed daily. Without proper hygiene, baby teeth will become decayed and the adult teeth can also be adversely affected.

Even while teeth are loose, they should be carefully brushed and flossed.

To Pull or Not to Pull?

Parents often wonder if they should pull a child’s loose tooth—especially if it seems to take a long time to fall out. Typically, a tooth should be allowed to fall out on its own. Encourage your child to wiggle the tooth with his tongue (avoid having him use his fingers unless they’re clean). Eventually, the tooth will work itself loose.

If the permanent tooth is coming in and the baby tooth still remains firmly attached, see your dentist. He or she can make a recommendation or may even pull the tooth in the office. Whatever you do, don’t yank on a tooth that isn’t loose enough—it could traumatize your child and cause gum damage.

Bleeding With Tooth Loss

It’s common to see a little bit of blood when a tooth falls out. Apply a bit of pressure to the gums with a square of damp, clean gauze. Bleeding should slow and stop within an hour or so. See your dentist if this isn’t the case.

Swallowing a Tooth

This happens more often than you might think—your child bites into his dinner, the loose tooth comes out, and he accidentally swallows it. This usually isn’t a problem; a baby tooth is small enough that it won’t cause any harm—other than some disappointment that the tooth fairy might not come.

What Foods are Good for Your Teeth?

  • Posted On  March 13, 2013
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What Foods are Good for Your Teeth?

You already know that brushing, flossing and regular cleanings are important if you want healthy teeth. But did you know that what you eat has an impact on your dental health, too? Here are 4 foods that are good for your teeth.

Raw Veggies

Crispy, raw vegetables are great for your teeth. They’re full of fiber, so you have to chew them vigorously, which increases saliva. Saliva neutralizes the acid that builds up in your mouth and also provides calcium and phosphate which helps add more minerals to your enamel. Vegetables in a rainbow of colors—from dark purple eggplants to bright orange peppers, are just all-around healthy foods for your body. The nutrients they provide help build healthy cells—which includes the cells in your gums and teeth. The best raw veggie for your teeth? Celery. It’s stringy fibers help clean your teeth while you chew.

Fruit

Some raw fruits, such as apples, are good for your teeth for the same reasons as veggies—their fibrous flesh makes you chew more, increasing saliva in your mouth. Fruits also provide nutrients and vitamins that keep you healthy overall. In particular, pears have been found to be great for your teeth. One study showed that pears have the most neutralizing affect on plaque of all fruits.

One caveat: stay away from dried fruit. It has a high sugar content and is sticky, which can actually cause tooth decay.

Cheese

Cheese is low in sugar and high in calcium, making it a great food for your teeth. It also has low acid content. The casein protein in cheese is particularly good for rebuilding tooth enamel.

Most cheeses are fairly high in fat, so don’t go overboard or you’ll have other adverse health effects. Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses are both good choices.

Yogurt

Like cheese, yogurt is full of great proteins and low in sugar and acids, as long as you avoid yogurts with added sugar. Yogurt also has the benefit of acting as a probiotic.

Foods that are bad for your teeth

In addition to eating the good stuff, you should avoid the bad stuff. Some foods have a particularly negative effect on your dental health.

Sugary foods and beverages interact with the plaque in your mouth and the result is acid that breaks down the enamel on your teeth. The effect can last for up to 20 minutes after you eat. Sticky sweets, like caramels or taffy are even worse, because the food itself sticks to your teeth, prolonging the contact with plaque.

Why Do Gums Bleed When Brushing?

  • Posted On  March 13, 2013
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Why Do Gums Bleed When Brushing?

ADaily brushing is important for healthy teeth and gums. When your gums bleed during or after brushing, there may be cause for concern. Here are 9 reasons your gums may be bleeding:

Your toothbrush is too hard.

Most dentists recommend that their patients use a soft-bristle brush. Replace your brush often; once the bristles start to fray, they can cause tiny injuries to gums and the soft tissue in your mouth, which leads to bleeding.

You are brushing too hard.

The reason for brushing is to remove plaque and food from teeth and gums. This shouldn’t require a tremendous amount of pressure; let your toothbrush do the work. If you’re pushing too hard on the brush, you might be causing trauma to your gums, which will make them bleed. Lighten up a bit and see if that makes a difference.

You aren’t flossing properly.

The purpose of flossing it to remove bits of plaque and food from in between teeth, but if you’re flossing too aggressively, you may be damaging your gums. Talk to your dentist about proper flossing technique.

You aren’t brushing thoroughly enough.

When you don’t adequately remove plaque at the gum line, your gums may become inflamed, leading to a condition known as gingivitis. One sign of gingivitis is bleeding gums. Take care to brush teeth at the gum line and don’t skip your semi-annual checkup and cleaning.

You have more advanced gum disease.

Skip enough cleanings and you may find that your plaque has hardened into tartar. One sign that plaque has turned into tartar is increased gum bleeding. It’s very important to see your dentist for plaque removal in order to prevent even more advanced gum disease called periodontitis.

You are pregnant.

Some women experience gum bleeding while pregnant. This is due to a change in hormones and isn’t cause for concern. Make sure you’re using a light touch with the toothbrush and don’t let a little bleeding stop you from brushing at least twice a day. Mention your bleeding gums to your dentist or doctor just to make certain that the bleeding is caused by pregnancy hormones.

Your dentures don’t fit properly.

If your dentures are too tight, they could be pinching the gums, which can cause bleeding. Conversely, dentures that are too loose may slide around, rubbing sores on your gums that can bleed during brushing. See you dentist to make sure that your dentures fit properly.

You use tobacco.

Smoking or chewing tobacco can irritate gums and the soft tissue in your mouth, which can lead to bleeding.

You are taking medication that can affect bleeding.

If you’re taking blood thinners, you may find that your gums bleed while brushing. Mention this to your doctor.

How to Floss Correctly

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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How to Floss Correctly

Your whole life you’ve been told that dental hygiene is important. By now, you’re probably excellent at brushing your teeth, but have always questioned whether or not you were flossing properly. Sometimes it can be hard to motivate yourself for flossing, but that simple string can get places that your trusty toothbrush can’t. Of course, that’s only as long as you floss correctly.

Prepare the Floss

Take about an 18 inch string of floss and wind each end around your middle fingers and then pinch the floss between your thumbs and index fingers. There should be about one or two inches of length in between.

Floss Position

Always keep one or two inches of floss taut between your fingers. Use your thumb to guide the floss for your upper teeth and your index finger to guide the floss for your lower teeth.

How to Floss

Glide the floss between your teeth using a zigzag motion. Be sure to be gentle and somewhat slow. Don’t hurriedly shove your floss between your teeth. While flossing, form a ‘C’ shape by angling the floss to hug the side of one tooth. Don’t forget to angle the floss the opposite way to get that other tooth.

Where to Floss

Floss up and down against the tooth surface and a dip under the gum line. Be sure to floss each tooth thoroughly with a clean section of floss on the same string. Even those molars in the back need flossing. After flossing, rinse with mouthwash or water.

Any kind of floss will be effective if you floss properly. Just be sure to floss every tooth along the sides and the gum line. Brushing can only do so much, but flossing will help your teeth be the cleanest they can be. Even teeth with broader spaces between them need flossing.

Braces or Other Dental Work

If you have braces, a permanent retainer or some other dental work that can get in the way of normal flossing, there is special orthodontic floss that’s stiffer and can be threaded under wires. There’s also the option of floss threaders, which look like plastic, bendable needles. You can simply thread the floss through the loop and easily push the threader and floss under wires.

What is a Tooth Abscess?

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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What is a Tooth Abscess?

Perhaps the only thing you’ve ever known about tooth abscesses is that you don’t want one. But why is it so bad? What exactly is it? Frankly, it’s something you definitely want to avoid. A tooth abscess is a collection of pus at the tip of a single tooth; a pocket of fluid within the tissue surrounding the tooth’s apex. It’s often a result of an infection in the pulp of a tooth. This pulp infection can be caused by a serious gum disease, tooth decay or maybe something as simple as a chipped tooth. It sounds bad enough as it is, but does it hurt?

The actual infection of the pulp may not cause any pain, but once an abscess has formed, there is usually an ongoing, extreme pain in the tooth and the gums surrounding it. Using that tooth to chew or putting any sort of heat to it will only cause more pain and the abscess may also cause swelling in the gums or cheek. Luckily, the swelling can be managed by pressing the usual ice pack to the affected tissue. Yet, with an acute abscess, the swelling may occur but the pain may not. In any case, if there are any symptoms of a dental problem, a dentist should be consulted immediately.

In some serious cases, the abscess could get through the bone and drain into nearby facial tissues. This can cause a more serious case of swelling and puff up more than just some gums and a little bit of your cheek. The abscess may also affect the lymph glands in the neck, which may become tender and a little swollen. If the abscess is bad enough, it may even cause pain similar to a migraine. But, generally, pain in the gums surrounding the infected tooth is common and the tooth itself is extremely tender to the touch.

Abscess Treatment

Obviously, it sounds like a lot of painful possibilities rolled up into one. It’s definitely something you want to get rid of immediately. Truly, the only way to get on the path to recovery is to visit your dentist. They can help identify whether or not that pesky pain is caused by a tooth abscess and, if it is, they can help you get rid of it and return to happy dental health. Unfortunately, the treatment of a tooth abscess isn’t always a skip in the park. What is done to solve the problem may depend on how bad the infection is and can go something like this:

If there is, in fact, a tooth abscess, the dentist will do their best in reducing the infection in the tooth. This can be done by either antibiotics or drainage, but whether or not the tooth will stay nested in your gums or not depends on the state of the tooth itself.
If the tooth looks like it can be saved, a root canal procedure will be performed to remove as much of the infection as possible.
If the tooth is too far gone, then it will be extracted completely and some of the surrounding tissue will be removed in order to reduce the infection as much as possible.
It sounds like a lot of scary bits and pieces, but it will be worth it. If the tooth is still hanging on and was treated with a root canal procedure, the tooth will be checked at a year mark and also at a two year mark to make sure that everything is properly healed and the problem is not reoccurring.

Now that you know about tooth abscesses, be sure to visit the dentist if you suspect you have one. Even if isn’t an abscess, it’s better to be safe than sorry and may prevent worse issues that can result if you wait.

How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore

They annoy, they irritate, and—most of all—they sting. Canker sores are not pleasant and can often get in the way of enjoying everyday life. With a canker sore, that salsa is suddenly not as delicious as it usually is, or that lemonade has become the bane of your existence. That canker sore can create enemies out of your favorite foods until you’re finally free of its stinging existence. Naturally, you want it to go away as quickly as possible. There are more than a several ways to go about getting rid of that sore, ranging from pills to foods to a combination of home supplies.


Over the Counter

There are certainly over the counter treatments that can help with your canker sore, but be sure to read the label carefully. Some products may have ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction, such as those that use bee byproducts. There are pills that can be taken or gel patches to apply directly to the sore, depending on what works best for you. Some pills help prevent future outbreaks, if it’s a common occurrence, by building up the immune system. Gel patches can help with instant relief and healing, but won’t be as handy for prevention. There are also some liquid medications that can be swished around in your mouth like a mouthwash that will also help with healing and relief. Here are a few pharmacy products to try:

ACIDOPHILUS: Acidophilus is a probiotic often found in yogurt. It stimulates the immune system and helps the sore heal and get out of your hair. To get rid of the sore as quickly as possible, pick up the pill form from your nearest pharmacy. Take it two to four times a day with a healthy dose of milk.
ALOE JUICE: Aloe Juice can be purchased at a pharmacy and helps relieve and heal that canker sore. Aloe Vera does wonders for stings, burns and bites and it does the same for sores. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the most pleasant of tastes. Apply the juice to the sore several times a day for maximum relief and healing.
MILK OF MAGNESIA or MYLANTA: Both of these remedies are antacids and can help with that oral ulcer. They can be applied directly to the sore by dabbing a little onto the sore or just swishing it in your mouth to coat the sore. These help prevent an infection as well as helping the healing process.

But, if the sore is already infected, do not use either of these, as they will only protect the bacteria that causes the infection.

GO AHEAD and try a few until you find a product that works best for you. Or, if you’re not really into trying out such products, there are also plenty of home remedies to try.

Home Remedies

If you don’t want to make a trip to the store for an over the counter product, a home remedy might be more your thing. You might have a few of these things lying around the house to be put to use, or maybe you don’t get canker sores often enough to purchase that bottle of pills. These remedies might be an easier solution for you:

BAKING SODA: This home product can easily be mixed with water and helps clean the sore so it will heal better. Just mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with a dab of water to make a paste. Apply the paste directly to the sore.
SALT WATER or SALINE SOLUTION: Salt water is also very helpful in clearing away bacteria in the sore. Mix a single teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water. Swish the solution in your mouth for about thirty seconds. To speed up the healing process, repeat this treatment up to three times a day.
MOUTH WASH: That minty cleanser helps keep that canker sore clean and bacteria free so it will heal faster. But be careful not to use it too often, as it can get rid of the good bacteria hanging out in your mouth. You’ll want to keep those buddies, but flush out the bad.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: Make a mixture of half 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and half water. Swish it around in your mouth, but do not swallow it and don’t overuse it. It will clear out the good bacteria, just like the mouth wash. If this is used in the early development of a canker, it could help prevent an actual sore.
ALUM: You can find this little guy in the spice section in the store. Of course, being a spice, it has a stinging effect that can be very painful. If you’re ready to brave this remedy, be prepared for a bite of pain. Apply it directly to the sore once or twice a day and then rinse thoroughly afterwards.
COPPER SULFATE (A.K.A Bluestone): This is an old remedy from a couple centuries ago and is rather difficult to find. It helps the skin contract to close the sore, but it also has a bit of a kick to it. If you happen to find it, be sure to consult your doctor before you try using it.
SAGE TEA: A simple cup of sage tea can help your canker sore heal up nicely. With each sip, go ahead and swish it around in your mouth a bit before swallowing.
CLOVE OIL: Applying clove oil directly to the sore will actually help numb it if the pain gets to be too much to bear.
PLUM JUICE: Sip up a couple of tablespoons of plum juice and swish it around for about two or three minutes . If you’re not one for swishing, go ahead and soak a cotton ball with plum juice and hold it against the canker sore.
WET TEA BAG: After making a cup of tea, it can be helpful to press the used tea bag against the sore. While it helps the canker sore to heal, it also relieves some of the pain.
RAW ONION: If you’re brave and love a good onion, this remedy might be your style. Take a chunk of an onion and hold it directly to the sore for a few minutes. It won’t help in the relief area, but it will help the sore heal faster than usual.

BASICALLY, A GOOD RULE to go by is to keep you canker sore clean and bacteria free. It will help the sore heal faster and keep it from being infected. When you have a canker sore, it’s best to keep away from certain foods. Spice, salty, acidic and crunchy foods may only aggravate the sore and bring a fresh round of pain. Although, ice cream and yogurt are helpful in relieving discomfort and irritation of the sore.

Most of the time, a sore is a sore. But, sometimes, a sore can be something more. If you develop a fever with your sore, take a trip to the doctor and see if everything’s okay.

Hopefully, with the extensive list of remedies, there will be a treatment out there that works best for you in getting rid of the awful canker sore. Try a few to see if one is right for you. Better yet, try them all if you can so you can pinpoint that perfect process.

 

How to Brush Your Teeth with an Electric Toothbrush?

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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How to Brush Your Teeth with an Electric Toothbrush?

An electric toothbrush doesn’t provide different results that a properly-used manual toothbrush. However, some people don’t brush thoroughly enough with a manual brush; those people will benefit from an electric toothbrush.

The brushing technique with an electric toothbrush is different from that of a manual brush. With a manual brush, you must provide all the movement; with an electric brush, you need only guide the brush. Here are the 10 steps to brushing with an electric toothbrush.

Floss your teeth before brushing. While using an electric toothbrush may clean your teeth more thoroughly, it can’t get between teeth like floss, so you’ll still need to floss your teeth. Though it doesn’t matter whether you floss before or after brushing your teeth, some dentists feel that brushing beforehand allows for better fluoride penetration from your toothpaste.

Make sure that your toothbrush is fully charged, or that the batteries are fresh. Rechargeable electric toothbrushes typically have lights that indicate the charge level so that you can see when the toothbrush needs to be charged. You can tell when battery-charged electric toothbrushes need fresh batteries when the toothbrush begins to slow down.

Apply toothpaste to the head of the brush. Use the toothpaste you normally use with a manual brush; special toothpaste is not necessary.

Turn the brush on and guide it to the outside of your front teeth. Don’t push down on the brush or move your hand around much; just guide the brush along the surface of each tooth, letting the brush’s action clean the tooth as you go. Hold the brush in place for a few seconds before guiding it to a new position on the tooth.
Guide the brush from one tooth to the next, allowing the toothbrush to clean the outside of every tooth.

Repeat the process, this time cleaning the inside surface of every tooth.

Clean the chewing surface of each tooth by guiding the brush along the surface, holding the toothbrush in place for a few seconds before moving on.
Rinse your mouth with a small amount of water.
Run the head of your electric toothbrush under water to clean it.
Wipe the handle of the brush to dry it and place the brush back on the charger (for rechargeable electric toothbrushes) or in a place where the toothbrush head won’t come into contact with germ-laden surfaces.

A Reminder…

Most manufacturers recommend that you replace the head of your electric toothbrush at least every 3 months.

What Kind of Toothpaste Should I Use?

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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What Kind of Toothpaste Should I Use?

A visit to the toothpaste aisle can be overwhelming. There are so many options that you might be confused about what toothpaste you should use.

5 Things Most Types of Toothpaste Have in Common

Toothpaste’s main function is to provide abrasive agents that remove food and bacteria from your teeth. Calcium carbonate is the most common abrasive ingredient in toothpaste, though some brands may use a different ingredient in its place.
Most toothpastes include flavoring. Some brands add saccharin (sugar) to make toothpaste taste better. Available flavors vary widely and include mint (most common), cinnamon, citrus and even bubblegum. Toothpaste is also available without added flavoring or with natural flavoring for those who want to avoid artificial additives.
Detergents are added to many brands of toothpaste to create cleaning foam. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a common detergent found in toothpaste.
Fluoride is added to most toothpastes. It’s a mineral that prevents tooth decay by making tooth enamel stronger and provides minerals to parts of teeth that have started to decay.
Moisturizers and thickeners. Toothpaste must be thick enough to spread on your toothbrush and must be kept moist inside the tube.

Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

If you experience tooth pain when eating or drinking things that are hot or cold, you might want a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth. This kind of toothpaste contains compounds that reduce the sensitivity of your teeth.

Some people are prone to canker sores inside their mouths. Sodium lauryl sulfate may be one cause of such sores; to avoid this, find a toothpaste that is free of this common additive.

Tartar Control Toothpaste

 

Plaque is the layer of bacteria on and in between your teeth that you remove by brushing and flossing. If it’s not removed, it hardens and becomes tartar. Toothpastes with extra compounds such as zinc citrate and triclosan can prevent tartar buildup.

Whitening Toothpaste

If your teeth are stained, you might want to try a whitening toothpaste. These specially-formulated pastes contain extra abrasives and chemicals that bind to stains in order to remove them.

Specially-Flavored Toothpaste

If you’re having difficulty getting your kids to brush regularly, a flavored toothpaste might help. Toothpastes developed for kids include flavors such as bubblegum, fruit punch and grape.

Adults might also enjoy some of the special flavors on the market. Instead of the typical mint, you can find toothpastes flavored like cinnamon, citrus and even herbs.

How to Choose the Right Toothpaste

First, ask your dentist for a recommendation. Your dentist is familiar with your specific dental needs and may encourage you to use a specific type of toothpaste.

Otherwise, as long as you choose a toothpaste that has been approved by the ADA (American Dental Association), you can’t go wrong.

How to Make Your Own Mouthwash?

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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How to Make Your Own Mouthwash?

If you want fresh breath and a clean mouth, mouthwash is the buddy you turn to. But that mouthwash you picked up from the store is full of toxic ingredients that may do more harm than you think to both yourself and your environment. Why do people always tell you not to swallow it?

Store bought mouthwash has actually been associated with an increased occurrence of oral cancer, enamel damage and tooth sensitivity. While that is merely an association, research has actually shown that mouthwash can damage DNA and is toxic for your cells. It won’t have an immediate effect, but will be damaging in the long run if you continually use mouthwash full of toxic ingredients.

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The good news is that you can make your own mouthwash with safe, natural ingredients that are affordable and easy to find. To make your own mouthwash, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • ½ cup of distilled water
  • 1 cup of aloe vera juice
  • 2 tablespoons of baking soda
  • 1 tablespoons of witch hazel
  • 20 drops of Peppermint essential oil

Snatch up an old mouthwash bottle, or some other bottle that will easily work, and a funnel. Using the funnel, pour everything into the bottle, shake it up and you’ve got yourself a homemade, safe mouthwash your whole family can use. It doesn’t have any toxic contents or alcohol, so your children can use it as well. If they swallow it, it won’t harm them at all, as the contents are all safe to swallow, but will freshen breath and catch those extra bacteria after brushing.

If you have a few extra minutes, toss out that toxic mouthwash and make your own. The ingredients are easy to shake together and lack the toxic contents that can lead to oral cancer and cell damage.