If you're being treated for gum disease or having certain dental procedures performed, your dental professional may prescribe a prescription rinse with antibacterial properties called a chlorhexidine antibacterial mouthwash. This rinse helps to control and kill the bacteria in your mouth that cause gum disease.
On the positive side, chlorhexidine has powerful antibacterial properties, and can be especially helpful in maintaining a healthy mouth after a teeth deep-cleaning procedure such as tooth scaling and root planing.
However, chlorhexidine mouthwash can cause brown stains on teeth, because chlorhexidine has been shown to bind to both hard and soft tissues. So if your dental professional prescribes a chlorhexidine wash for a short time while you're recovering from gum disease treatment, try not to drink too much coffee, tea, red wine, or consume any foods that may be likely stain your teeth. Also, chlorhexidine mouthwashes or antibacterial rinses, may not be the best choice if you have tooth crowns or caps made of composite or glass ionomer, as these materials may stain.
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In general, it's not necessary to make a chlorhexidine mouthwash a long-term part of your oral care routine, and even a prescription antibacterial mouthwash does not replace tooth brushing and flossing. Once your gum disease is under control, following a regular program of dental hygiene that includes twice-daily tooth brushing, daily flossing and regular visits to your dental professional should help to prevent further problems with gum disease.
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This blog has been reviewed and approved by Dr Robert Lee, a dental professional of 35 years
Dr Robert Lee
Dr Robert Lee is a dentist with more than thirty years of experience in the industry.
Graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and from the University of New South Wales with a Master of Business Administration, Robert’s career has taken him all over the world – from Australia to Germany to his current position in Chicago, where he is the founder of Denticus Inc., offering strategic dental consulting.
Robert has previously worked for Procter & Gamble as the Director of Professional Scientific Relations in both the Cincinnati and Sydney offices, being responsible for external relations and scientific exchange with leading professional associations and industry thought leaders. He was also responsible for all technical and scientific training for the professional teams in North America and Australia.
Robert has been assisting the team at Oral-B by fact-checking and reviewing our blogs on dental health. You can find a list of the blogs Robert has approved below:
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