Although mouthwash has been around as a commercial product for over a hundred years, our grandparents and great grandparents were likely less familiar with it than we are. When it first hit the market in the 1920s, mouthwash was promoted as a cure for bad breath. But it is so much more than that. Based on what we know in the 21st century, it's wise to not underestimate the value of a good mouthwash.
EcoFam offers both liquid mouthwash concentrate and mouthwash tablets. One bottle of our concentrate can make the equivalent of sixteen bottles of standard mouthwash. As for our mouthwash tablets, you get all the benefits of a liquid mouthwash in a more convenient format.
We invite you to take a look at both of our mouthwash products by checking out their product pages. In the meantime, it might be interesting to take a brief look at the history of mouthwash, what they knew about it back then, and what we know about it today.
It Began as a Surgical Antiseptic
You can learn all about the history of mouthwash by checking out this great piece from Smithsonian Magazine. In a nutshell, mouthwash began its life as a surgical antiseptic developed in the 1880s. The first commercial product was sold under the trade name 'Listerine'.
It wasn't long before doctors, dentists, and scientists began treating Listerine as an all-purpose antiseptic. The company behind the product specifically targeted dentists, urging them to use it as an oral antiseptic. Then came the 1920s and a sudden interest in halitosis.
'Halitosis' is just a fancy word for bad breath. Listerine marketers discovered they could sell more of their product if they promoted it as a way to combat halitosis. So that's exactly what they did. They started by targeting singles. Listerine was promoted as a way to make oneself more appealing to the opposite sex by eliminating bad breath. It worked.
It worked so well that Listerine sales exploded. The rest, as they say, is history. Mouthwash has been an American mainstay ever since.
More Than a Halitosis Treatment
Today, we recognize mouthwash as more than just a treatment for bad breath. We understand that a good mouthwash is an important part of a daily oral hygiene routine. Note that mouthwash isn't a replacement for brushing and flossing. Rather, it is a supplementary practice that enhances the benefits normally associated with brushing and flossing.
A good mouthwash:
● Kills Bacteria – Mouthwash can kill up to 99% of the germs in your mouth. As such, it can reduce plaque and gingivitis-causing bacteria to promote better oral health.
● Prevents Cavities – Certain mouthwash products containing ingredients like hydroxyapatite can actually prevent cavities by strengthening and remineralizing teeth.
● Freshens Breath – The ingredients in a mouthwash can temporarily freshen breath by masking odors. They can more permanently solve the bad breath issue by killing bacteria.
● Promotes Gum Health – Killing bacteria reduces the risk of gingivitis. And with a reduced gingivitis risk, gum health improves.
A good mouthwash can work so well that dentists are known to prescribe medicated mouthwash rinses following oral surgery. The idea is to prevent infections while the mouth takes time to heal.
It's Here to Stay
So now you know a little bit more about the history and value of mouthwash. Do not underestimate that value in your own oral hygiene routine. There is a reason mouthwash began its life as surgical antiseptic only to become an oral hygiene mainstay.
Mouthwash is here to stay. So are EcoFam mouthwash tablets and liquid concentrate. Why not give them a look?
