Listerine ® in its own advertising claims to kill only 99% of the bacteria in your mouth. It says that because Listerine has about a 10 second kill time on bacteria. But the spirochetes we need to target turn into a "spore form" by rolling into a protective ball in just ABOUT FIVE seconds which can survive Listerine, peroxide, alcohol, or other antibiotic environment. After conditions become safe for them they merely unroll and go about their spirochete business.
The kill time of baking soda is about FIVE seconds so a few of the spirochetes are going to be missed as they have just enough time to make it into their protective spoor form before dying. That's why the protocol calls for the once or twice a week use of the bleach.
The kill time of the Dakin's Solution Bleach is TWO seconds, far faster than the five seconds it takes for even the fastest spirochete to form a spore form. So, no, you will not have to use anything after using the Dakin's Solution diluted bleach. It kills far more than anything else you can use. Listerine is far less effective than the bleach but is more tasty. Once you've used the bleach, there should be no bacteria of any kind still alive in your mouth.
So is there no benefit to the Listerine incorporate into my routine at all? Even for the purpose of the fluoride in the Listerine touching between my teeth?
Or would you say fluoride toothpaste daily plus municipal water is good enough?
Currently, my routine consists of: Morning:
1) Brushing with baking soda, getting between gums
2) Flossing gently
3) Bleach mouth rinse for 60 seconds
Night:
1) Brush with fluoride toothpaste.
2) Warm saltwater rinse
Sorry for all the questions. I am becoming very intrigued in improving my oral health since reading your threads. I have never had very good oral health and nobody ever taught me this growing up. I mean, I knew you were supposed to brush daily, but never really followed it much growing up. It was unfortunately a habit I didn’t develop young and I didn’t do much better as I became an adult.
To be perfectly honest I did not know flossing daily was important for gums and oral health in general. If embarrasses me to say but my parents did not floss daily and I thought flossing was merely a process of removing food that you can feel stuck in your teeth.
Your input is very valuable to me - it’s nice to get advice from somebody genuinely offering their help, and not just trying to sell a product. Much appreciated.
PS: Squirt bottle is working fantastically for the bleach. Would recommend you try it as well, if only to avoid juggle a large bottle of bleach more than you have to.