As mentioned in the article, mouthwashes can do different things depending on what ingredients are in them: from doing some (very minor) whitening to helping combat cavities.
As mentioned in the article, if you have not been regularly flossing, you may (should!) notice your gums bleeding during flossing. Unless you are pulling so hard you are hurting yourself, the bleeding is an indication of active gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis).
An excellent overview of how to best take care of your child’s teeth!
A key point to note: oral hygiene routines for children should include both tooth brushing and flossing. Toothbrushing should not only be monitored but a caregiver should be “re-brushing” or “pre-brushing” the child’s teeth with each toothbrushing session (twice a day!).
Gingivitis is a very common disease but fortunately, it is reversible and “curable” - with proper care at home and by seeing your dentist as often as recommended! It is important for us to do our best to control gingivitis because we want to so what we can to prevent the progression to the more severe, irreversible, “incurable” form of gum disease called periodontitis (the loss of tooth-supporting bone).
Removing plaque with tooth brushing and flossing is not only important for helping control gum disease, but also for helping to control cavity risk (particularly for those of us at high risk for cavities) as the bacteria in plaque biofilm is responsible for creating cavities.