Here, Cecil warns that excess alcohol use can damage the gums, among other things. Now my question is, is this due to the internal effects of alcohol, or is it due to the contact of alcohol with the gums while it is still in the mouth? I need to know because I rinse and gargle frequently with Listerine, which is about 50 proof. It feels good to kill all those nasty cooties, and I would think it’s beneficial to the whole dental/aveolar region, but if the alcohol in the Listerine is actually weakening my gums, I need to know this!
The column can also be found on pages 283-284 of Cecil Adams’ book «The Straight Dope».
moderator, «Comments on Cecil’s Columns»
The listerine FAQ page says:
«Q: Does Listermint® contain fluoride?
A: No. Listermint® has been reformulated. It is now without fluoride as well as being alcohol free.»
So if you are concerned, you may want to switch to Listermint®.
P.S. I called the consumer response telephone number from the Listerine FAQ page, and the helpful costumer service representative told me the following (I paraphrase):
«The alcohol in Listerine® causing gum disease? I never heard that one. We have made tests for mouth cancer (and so has the FDA), and the results show that Listerine® does not cause mouth cancer.»
He then took my name and address and promised to send me information to allay my concerns. I’ll probably be getting some Listerine® coupons in the mail soon!
So there you go javaman, now you can start worrying about mouth cancer too.
Mouthwash does good things and bad things for you. It kills harmfull bacteria. But it also kills beneficial bacteria. I was having trouble with my gums once, and the dental hygenist told me mouthwash can upset the balance of flora in your mouth.
I don’t use mouthwash any more and my gums don’t get red and swollen. But you have to do what’s right for you.