Variety is the spice of life it is said and the mouthwash market seems to be trying to live up to the hype. The product that started as plain water to rinse out leftover food particles and such in your mouth after eating has developed amazing diversity. Many of the aspects of the development are related to an expanding health and bodily odor consciousness in the public that marketers definitely notice. Other reasons go deeper and are related to better oral health for the modern world. The increased longevity of the human race has all of us wanting to keep our teeth and mouths healthy longer.
The exact term should be oral health in all correctness for mouthwash since some of the properties developed aid healthy gums and teeth. As modern adults we quickly discover that gum disease can be more painful and distressing than cavities or tooth difficulties. Teeth can be repaired or replaced in most cases, but the gums leave few options. Gingivitis is a common word now and being incorporated in children’s dental education. Brushing the gums is as important as the teeth in most programs.
One of the first commercial marketing ideas for mouthwash was to eliminate the stench associated with bad breath. Playing on the attitude of attractiveness to the opposite sex, the advertisements were designed to show gorgeous girls and handsome guys with perfect teeth and “minty fresh” breath. After using the product, the social aspects of the relationship inevitably became more personal and usually centered around kissing.
A subset of the bad breath genre for advertising is the coining of the phrase “morning breath” to stigmatize your first moments of waking up each day unless you use their mouthwash. The product would make any bed mates you have pleased to see you and snuggle with your each morning. It would cleanse your breath for the entire day it seemed, though that was never actually stated.
In reality, mouthwash does seem to aid in killing bacteria in the mouth resulting in cleaner smelling breath for most people. The effects are only usually good for several hours and can be affected by eating or drinking. Just like tooth brushing, washing your mouth is best done after every meal to give you a clean start. Some toothpaste products have incorporated extra ingredients in the pastes to combine the effects.
Cinnamon is the next most popular flavor and often is spiced up for adult users of mouthwash. The varieties of cinnamon flavor are wide with very strong tastes to mild almost reminders of cinnamon. It usually comes with a bright red color to enhance the flavor in our minds as well as taste buds.
The hygienic properties of mouthwash have been improved from the basic nature of soap over the years. Alcohol is one primary ingredient for many of the varieties available today. It is a controversial substance to have in a medicinal product since it has been tried and used as a drink for its alcohol content. The normal alcohol levels in the product are well above the average wine or beer.
The antiseptic properties of mouthwash are good for teeth and gums as well so there is a merging of rinses and washes in the market. People like a combination product in most cases, such as a toothpaste that cleans your teeth, gums, and bad breath all at the same time. Rinses and wash products are incorporating and blending the antiseptic bad breath fighting agents with the good oral health products to create all-in-one products. These products are new and untested, but will probably be great companions to brushing in the near future.