Most Listerine products, a popular antiseptic mouthwash brand, cause a burning sensation. Listerine contains menthol, eucalyptol, thymol, methyl salicylate and alcohol. The first four ingredients are essential oils. It is the alcohol and the essential oils in the products that cause the burn.
What it does is it dissolves these ingredients into your gums, teeth and tongue. A burning sensation can be felt whenever these active ingredients come in contact with your mouth and gum tissues. Don't use this mouthwash, it's bad for your oral health and really accomplishes nothing it claims it does.
Some ingredients in toothpastes are too harsh for many mouths, and can actually burn the outer tissue of the oral cavity. This burned, dead tissue then forms into the globs and film of white discharge you find in your mouth anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour after brushing.
Avoid Scope, Listerine and the other commercial mouthwashes. They're acidic, contain potentially cancer-causing chemicals, and are just plain bad for you. Simpler, gentler, homemade rinses and those from CariFree, however, can soothe your mouth and balance your pH, among other benefits.
Used in moderation, it can help improve oral health without causing any harm. It is generally not recommended by dentists to use mouthwash every day or even at all for the matter. Most dentists will recommend that you brush your teeth and floss on a daily basis but not many will tell you that you need to use mouthwash.
It is not recommended to rinse your mouth with water after you have just used mouthwash. This is because many mouthwashes contain ingredients such as fluoride that need time to start working. If you rinse your mouth out straight after, the fluoride will also be washed away during the rinsing.
Using mouthwash several times a day for a long period of time may cause more harm than good, especially if you're using an alcohol-based brand. Alcohol can irritate the soft tissues of the mouth and may also cause dry mouth.
Mouthwashes and mouth rinses are meant to be spit out, not swallowed, because even natural mouthwash products may contain ingredients that can be poisonous if ingested in large amounts.
Response from Listerine:
It sounds like you are experiencing what is called 'sloughing. ' While sloughing is not a common side effect we expect from using this, it can happen in some people. Please know that this is harmless.
This non alchoholic version of mouthwash does produce little clumps but it is not skin which some people are foolish enough to say , rather it is the byproduct of bacteria and toothpaste that has built up in your mouth.
"Basically what happens is the product is killing bacteria that causes bad breath and in some individuals that bacteria as it's killed it can also turn brown and then stick to the teeth,” P&G spokesperson Victoria Maybee told CTV's Lynda Steele in a telephone interview.
The concentration of alcohol in mouthwash is so high that inebriation occurs quickly, especially when compared to the concentration of other forms of alcohol. The original Listerine formula, for instance, has a 26.9 percent concentration of alcohol. Scope sits at 18.9 percent.
LISTERINE HEALTHY WHITE VIBRANT® can help make your teeth their whitest, while restoring enamel. It whitens by removing tough surface stains and uses fluoride to help strengthen your enamel. So go ahead, flash those pearly whites! Adults and children 12 years and older: Use twice daily after brushing with toothpaste.
If the mouthwash seems too strong, you can dilute it by adding water. That said, you should check the label first, since diluting the product could reduce its ability to fight plaque. Some people experience irritation when rinsing with mouthwash. This is especially common for people who have sensitive gums or teeth.
Using a fluoride rinse does not replace daily brushing and flossing, but it should be used following your daily schedule at bedtime. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing. It is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating, drinking or rinsing.
Mouthwash is generally meant to be swished around in the mouth for 30 to 60 seconds. Make sure you follow the directions on your specific bottle. Swishing for less than 30 seconds isn't usually enough time for the mouthwash to be effective while swishing for longer than a minute won't give you any additional benefits.
A general rule of thumb for safe use is to limit the use of mouthwash to one time per day, in conjunction with brushing the teeth and flossing two to three times per day and visiting the dentist one to two times per year for routine oral health exams and screenings for oral cancers.
Should you use mouthwash before bed? You certainly can, but use it half an hour after you brush so your toothpaste fluoride has time to work first. That way, the mouthwash adds to the protection. Otherwise, using the mouthwash right after you brush simply washes away the toothpaste fluoride.
Using a mouthwash that contains fluoride can help prevent tooth decay, but don't use mouthwash (even a fluoride one) straight after brushing your teeth or it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth. Choose a different time to use mouthwash, such as after lunch.
To help ensure your whole mouth gets clean, properly use a LISTERINE® Mouthwash twice daily.
If you brush your teeth well, twice a day, and floss daily, mouthwash is not strictly necessary. However, most dentists highly recommend adding mouthwash to your morning and evening routine.
If you've been diagnosed with periodontitis, your dentist may recommend a cleaning every 3 months. Adding LISTERINE® to your daily oral care routine can help reduce early gum disease.