Skip to main content
Email Sign Up
Healthcare Professionals
Español
Where to Buy

ATTACK PLAQUE

The Importance of a 3‑Step Oral Care Routine

Brushing your teeth and flossing are vital to proper oral care, but they only go so far. Bacteria hides in places where brushing, and even flossing, can’t reach. That’s why it is important to strive for a WHOLE MOUTH CLEAN by rinsing with mouthwash as part of a 3-step oral care routine.

3-step oral care routine (brushing, flossing, mouthwash)

WHAT IS PLAQUE BIOFILM GROWTH

Within minutes of brushing, a thin, sticky substance called plaque builds up on your teeth each day. This substance doubles every 1-2 hours and if tooth or dental plaque is not removed, it can compromise your oral health.

Microscopic view of biofilm in mouth
Microscopic view of biofilm

Plaque biofilm grows rapidly. The image to the left shows plaque biofilm from the mouth beginning to appear within minutes. On the right, microbes have formed a colony within days.

BRUSHING YOUR TEETH IS NOT ENOUGH

Plaque control is difficult to achieve through teeth brushing and flossing alone. So, if you aren’t brushing and flossing in the correct ways, these oral health habits alone may not be enough to control plaque or the development of gingivitis and cavities.

WHOLE MOUTH CLEAN WITH A MOUTHWASH RINSE

In just 30 seconds, a mouthwash from our Listerine® Antiseptic Collection can penetrate deep into plaque biofilm to kill the remaining bacteria. A proper oral care routine that incorporates brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash offers a virtually 100% WHOLE MOUTH CLEAN.

Teeth after brushing and cleaning

Brushing and flossing reach

25%

Teeth after mouthwash

Adding a rinse cleans the other

75%

Teeth after 3-step routine

For a virtually

100%

Whole Mouth Clean

When added to brushing and flossing, a mouthwash such as LISTERINE® Antiseptic Cool Mint significantly reduces more plaque and gingivitis than brushing and flossing alone.10

Studies show…

  • 52% greater plaque reduction at 6 months when added to brushing and flossing1

  • 21% greater gingivitis reduction compared to brushing and flossing1-3

REFERENCES

  1. Sharma N, Charles CH, Lynch MC, et al. Adjunctive benefit of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly: a six-month study. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004;135(4):496-504.

  2. Charles CH, Mostler KM, Bartels LL, Mankodi SM. Comparative antiplaque and antigingivitis effectiveness of a chlorhexidine and an essential oil mouthrinse: 6-month clinical trial. J Clin Periodontol. 2004;31(10):878-884.

  3. Lisante TA, Charles C, Qaqish J, Sharma N, Junker L. Efficacy of brush, floss, rinse regiments vs mechanical oral hygiene. Presented at: 86th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research; March 16-19, 2011; San Diego CA.

Related Products