The History of Mouthwash

You may have bottle of bright red, blue, or green mouthwash sitting in your bathroom. You can use mouthwash to freshen your breath first thing in the morning, or after lunch. Mouthwashes have been developed to fight bad breath, and fight cavities, plaque, tartar and gum disease. There are even mouthwashes designed to address specific issues, such as a lack of fluoride or dry mouth.

Mouthwash goes back to ancient China, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Over the centuries, people tried different ingredients and combinations to get a healthy mouth. Those included tortoise blood, milk, wine, olives, myrrh, fruits, and vinegar. St. Hildegard von Bingen recommended a vigorous rinse with cold water to get rid of plaque and tartar. In the 1860’s Dr. Joseph Lister started developing antiseptic medications, which is part of the foundation of the mouthwash people use today.

Modern medicine has taken much of the guesswork out making an effective mouthwash. Since every mouth is different, you will want to talk to our dentist Dr. Barry Kinney about what kind would be best for you. Instead of experimenting with exotic ingredients, why not make an appointment at Barry Kinney? If you live in the San Francisco, California area, you can make plan your visit to practice name by calling 415-647-7077 today.