We asked the professionals about the need to use mouthwash as part of our daily oral hygiene routine. The response was unanimous. All agreed that using a mouthwash is important for achieving a healthy mouth. 

“It is a compliment to the basic pillars of oral hygiene” 
Anna cabezas (Dentist, Barcelona) 

“It is scientifically proven that the use of oral irrigators with water or antimicrobial substances, as a complement to the basic pillars of oral hygiene – toothbrushing and the use of dental floss or interproximal brushes -, significantly improves periodontal health by reducing bacterial toxins, interfering with plaque maturation and sweeping away loose plaque. For this reason, it is very important to recommend irrigation as a therapeutic method for patients already suffering from periodontal disease, for those who have elevated plaque levels and when clinical signs of gingival inflammation are clear. And as a preventive method, for people with braces, implants or fixed prostheses and in diabetic patients”. 

“I mainly recommend irrigators to patients with implants and their corresponding prostheses” 
Amaia Labiano (Hygienist, Bilbao) 

“I mainly recommend irrigators to patients with implants and their corresponding prostheses, although it is also indicated for optimal and complete oral hygiene in non-compliant patients and in patients who have braces”. 

“We recommend it in people diagnosed with salivary gland dysfunction” 
Estela Tena (Dentist, Vinaroz) 

“I recommend using an oral irrigator every night after conventional toothbrushing, and I stress always after, not before. However, I personally do not recommend it for after each meal, since this recommendation can intimidate a patient, make him tired of it and eventually discourage him from doing it at all”. 

“We recommend it in people diagnosed with salivary gland dysfunction” 
José María Delgado (Dentist, Jaén) 

“Currently, we recommend the oral irrigator to all patients who have some type of fixed prosthesis in their mouth. In patients with any sort of limitation and who cannot do it themselves, we instruct family members to carry out their hygiene for them, as long as they are periodontally healthy. In provinces like Jaen, where the climate is more extreme and summers are very hot, we recommend it in patients diagnosed with salivary gland dysfunction, where salivary flow is limited and the patient is in need of lubrication. Also, in patients who have problems using a standard tongue cleaner, because of its size, we recommend they use the tongue accessory [on the irrigator] to remove all of the plaque from dorsal tongue mucosa, as long as there are no existing lesions or clinical manifestations that contraindicate the application of pressure”. 

“A compliment to brushing” 
Charo García (Hygienist, Madrid) 

“I always recommend oral irrigators, as a compliment to a good brushing technique, to people with implants, fixed prostheses, brackets and to periodontal patients with wide embrasures. They help maintain treatment, and therefore a healthier mouth”.