My girlfriend gets bladder infections from, you know, but I use mouthwash, any ideas?

I brush my teeth minimum of 3x per day, and still use mouthwash, but she still gets a bladder infection, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Someone posted an answer to shower etc, well, if I take that good of my oral hygene, then, yes I bathe regularly. I'm close to having OCD when it comes to washing my hands, so.......

Thanks though for the replies, any info is greatly appreciated.

It may have nothing to do with you. She may just be more likely to get them. I am the same way. However, sex and oral sex can cause it, no matter how clean you, because it pushes bacteria into the urethra sometimes, so people who are naturally sensitive to them have a higher chance after sex or oral sex sometimes.

When I was having my problem, the doctor said there is something you can continue to take to prevent them, but I never actually needed, they stopped on their own.

Cranberry juice might not be a bad idea either.

Oh and anytime she is touched down there, from you rubbing her to her wiping, it needs to be from front to back since the anus has bacteria that can cause infections and by rubbing the wrong way, it can cause the bacteria to transfer there. Once my boyfriend learned to not rub me from back to front, my problems went away.

Dont just brush your teeth, take a shower and wash well. AND more importantly she should drink alot of cranberry juice.

She needs to void more. She might be trying to hold it in when she feels the need to pee too often. Tell her to drink more water. The cranberry juice is a good idea too. And go to the bathroom often.

She should drink cranberry juice, and she should pee after sex to wash any bacteria out.

I have never bought the "sex causes bladder infections because of re-contamination" theory.

1. It just doesn't fit my experience. I am as likely to "get" an infection from getting dehydrated, and that can't be attributed to re-exposure.

2. Recurring infections in other parts of the body are not due to re-exposure - they are due to a dormant illness that flares up.

3. A woman is *more* likely to get an infection from her lover wearing a condom than not wearing one. You'd think that the condom would create a cleaner environment.

4. TMI! I'm more likely to get an infection from *cough*doggie*cough* position than normal. Again, it seems like that would be less likely, not more so.

Any, I'll stop ranting now.

E. Coli doesn't like an alkaline environment, and will feed off of any sugars that are in the urine. So I have a few "rules" I follow to keep them in check especially at night.

1. I take calcium every night. Calcium is alkaline so it creates a more alkaline bladder environment.
2. I don't take Vit. C at night - I take it in the morning or not at all.
3. I avoid anything sugary in the evening.
4. I keep hydrated.

If I violate two of these rules, or violate one rule and have sex, or get really, really dehydrated, I'll get a bladder infection. If I don't, I won't. This has held true for many years now (when I instituted these rules I was getting a bladder infection every time I had sex, and many times that I hadn't).