[~kitty~]

Originally Posted by Reach

Mouthwash isn't very useful.

Flossing >>>> mouthwash.

Mouthwash can only kill bacteria that are exposed and have not formed plaque colonies. Alas, Dentistry has failed to find a way to chemically destroy plaque. It doesn't actually seem possible, without damaging everything else as well, for a number of reasons.

The only way to remove bacteria that are forming colonies is mechanically, i.e. brushing and flossing. Mouthwash gives you that nice tingly feeling of freshness, but that's a marketing ploy (toothpaste does the same thing). The effect is very very minimal in most people.



Also, genetic explanations are usually a cop out. There are some situations where people have genuine conditions that dramatically increase their risk for caries, but in most people it's either chronic hygiene deficiencies or dietary problems. Like 99% of time. Many people that claim to brush or floss all the time do so improperly, or have dietary habits that are deadly for their teeth.

I mean, cavities typically take 1-2 years to form. That's a festering bacterial lesion literally sitting there on the tooth surface attacking it continuously for that entire time. It doesn't really happen by accident >_>

Dietary habits? What kind of dietary habits?