There’s no way around it. For good oral health, you need to brush twice a day and floss daily, and mouthwash is no substitute.
However, when used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, mouthwash can help you step up your cleaning game by a few notches. But the benefits don’t end there! When you pick up a bottle of mouthwash from the drugstore, you are actually holding a product that serves a number of purposes.
Keep reading to find out South Springs Dental Group’s five favorite ways to get the most out of your mouthwash.
It Didn’t Start Off as Mouthwash
A product similar to mouthwash first hit the market in 1879. However, at that point, it wasn’t intended to disinfect mouths, it was intended as a surgical antiseptic. Later, savvy medical professionals discovered that it also worked well for cleaning teeth and gums and freshening breath.
For resourceful consumers, this multi-functionality continues today, and extends beyond two uses! We have chosen our five favorite alternative uses. For all of these functions, you will want to use a alcohol-based mouth rinse.
Five Alternative Functions for Mouthwash
- Deodorant: This was another of the beginning uses for mouthwash. Thanks to its antiseptics—thymol, eucalyptol, and methyl salicylate—mouthwash has the ability to kill bacteria that cause odor. Just soak a cotton pad with mouthwash and apply to underarms.
- Athlete’s Foot Treatment: The same antiseptics that make mouthwash an effective deodorant work to kill bacteria that cause athlete’s foot. Just apply to affected spots on your feet using a cotton ball.
- Dry Scalp Treatment: Most dandruff is actually caused by a fungus that causes skin growth to kick into overdrive. Eucalyptol, a component of mouthwash, has antifungal properties. To get the antifungal benefits on your scalp, mix 1-part mouthwash, 1-part witch hazel, and 8-parts water in a spray bottle. Spritz your scalp and roots.
- Washing Machine Refresher: We’ve all experienced opening our washing machine to be met with a stale odor. With regular use, your washer can become a haven for bacteria to develop. Luckily, you can use an alcohol-based, sugar-free mouthwash to take care of that problem! Just add a cup to your next wash cycle. Be careful of dyes in the mouthwash, though. You don’t want your clothes to end up stained.
- Fresh Flower Enhancer: Simply adding a capful of mouthwash to your vase will get rid of the bacteria that kills flowers.
Have fun testing these money-saving uses! Don’t forget to swish with mouthwash after you give these a whirl.