{"id":3034,"date":"2020-06-03T09:02:58","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T09:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/?p=3034"},"modified":"2020-08-25T03:35:04","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T03:35:04","slug":"rinsing-mouthwash-fight-covid-19-dentist-lawrenceville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gwinnettsmiles.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/03\/rinsing-mouthwash-fight-covid-19-dentist-lawrenceville\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Rinsing with Mouthwash Help Fight COVID-19?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Hands<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As the fight against COVID-19 continues in Georgia and\nacross the nation, your dentist in Lawrenceville is going the extra mile to\nensure your next visit is as safe as possible. You will likely notice a number\nof changes at your next checkup due to new dental\nsafety protocols<\/a> that have been implemented with your health and wellness\nin mind. Your dentist may also ask you to rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash\nbefore arriving for your next appointment. What does mouthwash have to do with\npreventing the spread of the Coronavirus? Keep reading to learn how rinsing\nwith mouthwash can provide an extra layer of protection from potential\ninfections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Antimicrobial Mouthwash and Infection Prevention <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Antimicrobial mouthwash can be a powerful tool when it comes\nto preventing oral infections. In fact, according to research<\/a>\npublished in the National Library of Medicine, rinsing with a mouthwash can\ncompletely kill microorganisms and harmful oral bacteria within 30 seconds! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although researchers have not yet studied the effects of mouthwash against the COVID-19 virus, preventing oral infections such as gum disease is more important than ever. Gum disease has been linked to a range of serious health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes \u2013 both of which increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can help prevent gum disease and other oral infections\nby incorporating an antimicrobial mouthwash into your daily oral hygiene\nroutine.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Mouthwash Disinfect Hands? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although many popular types of mouthwash do contain alcohol, they should be used as hand sanitizer, even in a pinch. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand sanitizers should contain at least 60% alcohol to effectively kill germs. Most mouthwashes that contain alcohol \u2013 and not all do \u2013 typically contain only around 20%. So, while antimicrobial mouthwash may be a great way to keep the inside of your mouth clean and prevent infections, when it comes to clean hands you should continue to wash frequently with soap and water or use actual hand sanitizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Your Dentist Is Taking Action Against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Asking you to rinse with antimicrobial mouthwash before you\narrive at their office is not the only extra precaution your dentist in\nLawrenceville is taking to prevent transmission of the Coronavirus. Additional\nnew dental safety protocols at your dentist\u2019s office may include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n