There are plenty of mouthwashes sold on the market, and some of them are specifically designed for children. So surely that means that it's safe for your child to use mouthwash to help bolster their oral health, right? Well, actually, it depends more on your child as an individual. Here's an answer to whether or not your child should use mouthwash.
Age
Your child's age plays a big role in whether or not they should use mouthwash of any kind. Although children should know not to swallow toothpaste or the water that they rinse with, some accidental swallowing is bound to happen when your child is particularly young. As a result, young children shouldn't use mouthwash as they may not fully understand that they need to spit it out at the end and not swallow any of it. Check the bottle or contact your dentist to learn if your child is old enough to use the product.
Type
The type of mouthwash also matters. Some mouthwashes marketed towards children are designed to get rid of bacteria, while others are essentially just fluoride in fluid form that are designed to help improve the strength of your child's teeth.
For most children, antibacterial mouthwash is unnecessary, and it may even sting. Unless your child has a problem with gum disease, it's best to use one that will just help to boost the strength of their teeth, so choose a fluoride mouthwash for best effect.
Best Results
While mouthwash can play a role in strengthening your child's teeth and killing bacteria, you should never skip dental appointments because of it. Dental appointments are the only thing that will get rid of the build-up of plaque and tartar on your child's teeth, which can lead to both cavities and gum disease.
All in all, mouthwash isn't a necessity for the average child. As long as your child is brushing their teeth at least twice a day, their teeth should stay in pretty good shape. However, since the average child can't or won't floss, you especially don't want to miss your appointments with a dentist. Only your dentist will be able to get rid of the tartar that may have developed between your child's teeth or under the gum line that could cause problems if it's left alone. So if in doubt, skip the mouthwash and just make an appointment with your family dentist instead.
For more information, speak with the staff at a family dental clinic near you.