Mouthwash is Not Just Soap Anymore
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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.
Mouthwash is now a hygienic product versus an attitude correction item. The rise of modern dental care and the obvious benefits to keeping your teeth healthy and in your mouth for life created a large need for dental hygiene products. Brushing in essentially cleaning your teeth and using a rinse to cleanse the entire mouth just followed.
Fluoride was added to toothpaste many years ago to help strengthen teeth, but it is a relatively recent addition to mouthwash. It also has spawned a vocabulary change to allow differentiation between traditional washes and what the industry has coined mouthrinses.
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.
The marketing of mouthrinses versus mouthwash products is radically different. Mouthwash usually concentrates on the social aspects of life and attractiveness to others. The elimination of bad breath is portrayed to be the ultimate aid in social or business situations. Your bad breath will break the deal while the minty fresh smell will make success.
Mouthwash is popular in most of the world and very often seen in business circles where face to face meetings are essential to doing business. No executive or salesman wants to see a look of displeasure on the face on the other side of a handshake due to bad breath.
Alcohol in mouthwash dries out the mouth a little but does reduce the amount of bacteria for a while. For some conditions the drying effects are not desirable and may increase pain or difficulties. Some products being developed and marketed to day are searching for adequate replacements for alcohol as a breath freshener. Almost any cleansing agent has been considered for effectiveness and taste but some standards such as baking soda are leading the pack so far.
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I have read all of your articles over the past 2 weeks and I am impressed with your ability to convey complicated topics in a simple, yet effective manner.
Full Disclosure - I sell CloSYS toothpaste and oral rinse.
I was wondering if you have ever tried it and what you think about CloSYS.
The feedback we get from users is 99% positive regarding improved oral hygiene, check ups and long-lasting fresh breath. The toothpaste has no SLS and the rinse is unflavored so it is not for everyone, but it may be the ideal solution for many still looking for the right product.