Is it possible to use mouthwash too much

This additional protection helps keep your teeth healthy and fights cavities. One of the main ingredients in mouthwash is alcohol. Alcohol destroys bacteria, but it can also cause harm to your gums, inner cheeks and tongue if over used. The alcohol itself has a drying property that will absorb the moisture from your mouth and cause the affected areas to dry out.

This can cause cracking, swelling, and discomfort. Mouthwash that contains fluoride can also be harmful if overused. Fluoride is essential to teeth health; however, too much fluoride can be unhealthy to the body.

Some mouthwashes that do not use alcohol as their bacteria fighter use different forms of chloride. While these chemicals are very effective at killing bacteria, they may stain your teeth with overuse. These stains are not permanent, however, and can be removed with a professional cleaning. Most dentists recommend that you use mouthwash after every brushing.

Using it more than twice a day can be harmful, so use of this product should be limited. Dentists also advise that you refrain from swallowing mouthwash. In a recent study, researchers examined the link between developing diabetes and using mouthwash. They found that frequent mouthwash users twice daily or more were at a 55 percent higher risk of developing diabetes or having dangerous blood sugar spikes within three years.

The microbes and bacteria in your mouth form chemicals needed for your body to function. These chemicals play a role in regulating blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and other important functions, all of which are related to diabetes.

Twice daily mouthwash use can decrease beneficial chemical levels by 90 percent—meaning these functions could be disrupted and lead to diabetes.

Some dentists also feel that certain types of mouthwash are too harsh and should never be used. The Glasgow study showed that excessive use of mouthwash — three or more times a day — correlated with an increased risk of certain oral cancers; that doesn't necessarily mean, however, that using too much mouthwash automatically causes cancer. People who frequently use mouthwash to clean their mouths and teeth may be at a higher risk for some oral cancers because of poor overall oral hygiene.

Some may rely on mouthwash to cover up odors from unhealthy habits such as smoking, chewing tobacco or drinking alcohol, behaviors that are already damaging to the teeth and gums as well as the overall mouth health. Others may use mouthwash or an oral rinse as a substitute for routine brushing, flossing, and dental visits.

Mouthwashes that are alcohol-based can be dangerous in any quantity because the alcohol destroys the natural mucous in the mouth that should shield and protect the mouth from cancer-causing irritants. A smoker, for example, is already at an increased risk of certain types of cancer. When the good bacteria are gone, the mouth becomes even more susceptible to infections as the harmful elements are allowed to grow unchecked.

Dry mouth can lead to more bad breath, causing people to reach for more mouthwash.