Mouthwash is a liquid oral product designed to freshen breath. Mouthwashes are made by combining the appropriate raw materials in large, stainless steel tanks and then filling the product into individual packages. First used by ancient societies, technological advances in chemistry have resulted in steadily improving formulas. The need for mouthwash is a result of a condition called halitosis, or bad breath.
It is estimated that over half the population occasionally has foul-smelling breath. This typically occurs upon first awakening or after a meal with garlic or onions.
It has been found that bad breath is mostly due to bacterial activity in an unclean mouth. Specifically, anaerobic bacteria that grow on the protein-rich food debris stuck between the teeth or on the tongue. As the bacteria breaks down the proteins, those containing sulphur give off foul odor molecules such as methylmercaptan and hydrogen sulphide which result in bad breath.
Mouthwashes are designed to eliminate bad breath in two ways. First, they relieve it by killing the bacteria responsible for producing the foul odor. The best of these products prevent bad breath for as long as eight hours.
The second way that mouthwashes help reduce bad breath is by masking the odor. This is a much less effective method which lasts no more than 30 minutes.
Products used for freshening breath or cleaning teeth have been in existence for centuries. Many of the ancient societies—including the Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks, and Romans—had recipes for such preparations. They used a variety of ingredients; from edible materials like fruit, honey, or dried flowers to less appealing compounds such as ground lizard, minced mice, or urine. These products were generally ineffective and in some cases were harmful to the sensitive enamel which coats each tooth.
While tooth cleaning preparations steadily improved over the years, it was not until the early s—when the modern toothpaste was developed—that truly effective oral products became available. The first mouthwashes were basically solutions of grain alcohol and were likely developed accidentally during this era. One of the most famous brands, Listerine, was developed during the s and is still sold today. The antibacterial effect of fluoride was an important discovery for the development of modern mouthwashes.
In the early s a dentist named Frederick McKay found that some of his patients had a condition called mottled enamel. He found that this condition was linked to a reduction in tooth decay. In , he tested the drinking water that these patients consumed and found a high level of natural fluoride. By the early s, other workers had determined that fluoride in drinking water at one part per million would reduce tooth decay without causing mottling.
Various testing went on during the rest of this decade and by the s it was recommended by the United States federal government that all public water sources be fortified with fluoride. This discovery led to the development of toothpastes and mouthwashes that contained fluoride compounds. During the years that followed, various raw materials have been developed that have an antibacterial effect but do not contain alcohol. Additionally, materials that prevent tartar, whiten teeth, and reduce cavities have also been discovered and added to mouthwash formulas.
Mouthwashes are generally composed of diluents, antibacterial agents, soaps, flavorings, and colorants. The water is specially treated to remove various particles and ions which might impact flavor.
Water treated as such is called deionized water. This item is designed to kill gingivitis and destroy plaque on a person's teeth. However, it also contains a variety of additional items. For example, it can often contain benzyl alcohol to eliminate bad breath. Other items include mineral oil, water, phosphoric acid, potassium sorbate, sunflower seed oil, and beta-carotene.
These items are help to preserve, but may also add health benefits. For example, sunflower seed oil has various vitamins and minerals that can help positively support a person's health. Water makes up about 50 percent of a most mouthwash's chemistry. This water has been carefully treated and purified to eliminate unpleasant tastes and various particles. This process, known as de-ionization, creates a smooth taste and eliminates bacteria and other dangerous item.
Popular flavors of mouthwash like peppermint or spearmint taste requires a small amount of flavoring to be added. The Basic Manufacturing Process The mouthwash manufacturing process uses a variety of techniques and quality-control methods.
Many of these steps are carefully monitored by trained professionals who work to maintain a consistent mix in the mouthwash. Each step will be outlined below to give you an increased understanding of the process. Pumping the Materials Into the Tank The first phase of this process involves pumping all of the ingredients from their storage areas into the mixing tank.
This process is often automated with the use of process controls. As a result, dosing will be more efficient alongside the selection of proper industrial mixing equipment to insure the appropriate distribution of ingredients are occuring at the various required levels. Once all the ingredients are gathered into the tank, they are mixed and allowed to settle for a period. The temperature is also carefully controlled during this process to blend it successfully.
The average mouthwash manufacturing can take up to three hours for the mixing process to finish. Racism and Public Health. Environmental Health. Antimicrobial Resistance. Climate Change. Family Planning.
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