Canker sores are one of the most common inflammatory diseases that affect the area around the mouth. Talking about the effect, the appearance of canker sores often interferes with the daily activities of the sufferer. Luckily, overcoming canker sores is usually enough to do with mouthwash.
Inflammation in canker sores usually affects the mucous membranes and lips. When attacked, this disease can be followed by the appearance of scabs in the mouth area, although this is not always the case. Some of the common causes of thrush include infection, malnutrition, and allergic reactions, and radiotherapy.
Reasons for Effective Mouthwash Overcoming Canker sores
To treat canker sores, actually gargling with mouthwash is considered effective. It's just that, until now the habit of gargling is still rarely done by most of our society. In fact, mouthwash is one of the oral health care products that acts as an antiseptic.
Apart from being an antiseptic, mouthwash can also be used to kill plaque-causing bacteria that can cause cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. The use of mouthwash itself is necessary because in some cases, brushing teeth and using dental floss are not effective enough in maintaining oral health.
The effectiveness of mouthwash to eradicate canker sores has at least been supported by a study conducted between 1987 and 1990. The study revealed that the use of mouthwash Povidone iodine considered effective in preventing thrush. This study involved 26 patients consisting of 19 men and 7 women with an average age of 53 years. The participants in this study were sufferers of acute myelogenous leukemia or commonly abbreviated as AML.
The resulting evidence is also supported by an open study. This study tries to prove the benefits of mouthwash containing Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) to cure canker sores that appear due to radiochemotherapy. The patients involved in this study were given standard measures to prevent the spread of disease through nystatin, dexpanthenol, rutoside and immunoglobulin.
Then the patients were divided into two groups. The first group received povidone-iodine mouthwash, while the other group was only given sterile water. Statistically, positive results were obtained in the group using Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) mouthwash as the patients were able to reduce the incidence, severity and duration of canker sores during antineoplastic radiochemotherapy therapy.
Recommended Mouthwash Criteria
Mouthwash for thrush itself can vary. However, those made from Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) and non-alcoholic are considered to have advantages. This has been proven by a study conducted to measure the effectiveness of three types of mouthwash. Other mouthwashes tested were alcohol-free, containing 0.12 percent chlorhexidine and non-alcoholic mouthwashes containing salt or soda.
This study was followed by 80 patients who were undergoing radiotherapy antineoplasty. There were 76 patients who completed the study and the results are increasingly convincing research on the ability of mouthwash Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) in fighting canker sores. The results concluded that povidone-iodine-based alcohol-free mouthwash can reduce the severity and delay the appearance of canker sores caused by antineoplasty radiotherapy.
Other Benefits of Mouthwash
Besides being proven to be effective in treating canker sores as proven by various studies, it turns out that mouthwash is also useful for preventing several other diseases. A study conducted in 2005 managed to confirm this. It is stated that gargling three times a day with water or with Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) mouthwash is effective in preventing respiratory tract infections or ARI. In addition, routinely gargling with Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) mouthwash can also reduce the severity of symptoms if you have an ARI.
On the other hand, although it has not been scientifically proven to be able to prevent flu, at least it can relieve flu symptoms and sore throat. The role of mouthwash as an antiseptic liquid can also prevent bacteria from the mouth from invading internal organs, such as the throat, stomach, and lungs.
Considering that the benefits of Povidone-Iodine (PVP-I) mouthwash are not only for treating canker sores, but are also effective in preventing ARI and relieving flu symptoms and sore throats, it is appropriate that oral care with mouthwash products should be accustomed from now on.
Apart from that, don't forget that brushing your teeth and flossing is still the best step in maintaining oral health. As a complement, use mouthwash. The sooner you get used to using mouthwash, the easier it is to maintain your oral health and overall health. What are you waiting for? Immediately clean your mouth with mouthwash.