Is it necessary to use mouthwash?

[citygirl1961]

I have had gum disease for years now and see the hygienist every three months. Last year the pain got worse and I had to go on two courses of antibiotics. The hygienist then advised me to use Cordysl Daily mouthwash twice a day, Cordysl toothpaste in the mornings and my usual Sensodyne toothpaste at night along with tepee brushes that I always use anyway.

I followed this regime for a while and it helped at first but then it started getting expensive using two toothpastes and a mouthwash, I also felt the Cordysl was staining my teeth even though the hygienist said the Daily one doesn't plus the Cordysl toothpaste tastes foul. I saw my dentist for a check up recently and asked his advice and he said mouthwash isn't necessary and all you need is to use toothpaste and brushes so now I'm confused. I've gone back to just using Sensodyne toothpaste, tepee brushes and my electric toothbrush.

Any views on this? Is mouthwash really necessary? Does anyone here have gum disease and how do you treat it?

Mouthwash shouldn't be necessary if you are following a decent dental regime. However, it is 'naice' to use to freshen up now and then. But you can rinse out with water.

All the corsodyl mouthwashes seem to cause some staining. My DH's teeth nearly turned brown from the daily one! I'm not sure why some dentists really push it or why the manufacturers would make something that stains like this regardless of any gum benefits.

I don't think mouth wash is an absolute necessity if you are cleaning thoroughly, though it does leave your mouth feeling fresher for longer. I use mw but bit every single time I brush.

I would say it is more important to floss everyday than use the mouthwash everyday if you notice blood when flossing use the mouthwash for a few days. Then when you are flossing and no blood stop with the mouthwash. Are you flossing as well as the tepe brush?

Peppermint dentists don't 'push' corsodyl mouthwash, they merely recommend it for acute (short lived) gum problems. It is very effective in its anti bacterial actions but unfortunately, it can cause some reversible staining.
Daily mouth wash is unnecessary, but may be a personal preference for mid day freshening. It is far better to spend the extra time on cleaning, tow minutes twice daily with an electric tooth brush then types or dental tape foe cleaning between the teeth.

I think corsodyl should be a short term thing to get the gum disease back under control.
I'd also say flossing is more important and if you haven't been advised to do that I'd see someone else!

Sorry, I see you use the tepees, that's like flossing...