# Does Listerine Go Bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013 "2002-11-27T01:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/1 "2002-11-27T01:26:50Z")
So I was just cleaning out my bathroom and I have this big bottle of Listerine that is only half used, and in looking at it I noticed that it has an expiration date on it. Since Listerine is about 20% alcohol, is there anything in it that would go bad and make it unhealthy to swirl around in your mouth? What do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/2 "2002-11-27T03:10:00Z")
I’m in about the same situation, actually. I only use it occasionally, but I haven’t dropped dead yet. If nothing else, it tastes the same. Wish I could be more helpful. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/3 "2002-11-27T03:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \> Does Listerine Go Bad? …Nah! too easy. What’s the expiration date? I think your reasoning about the high alcohol content is correct. But if you’re worried, throw it out. How much can a new bottle cost? For your piece of mind. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/4 "2002-11-27T03:14:50Z")
Should be fine unless it’s several years beyond expiration. A bit of the artificial sweetener may have broken down, but it’s not going to get moldy or anything. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/5 "2002-11-27T03:28:50Z")
I’ve been wondering what happens to medications after their expiration dates and also whether beauty products ever go bad. A little search turned up this: > [@](#): > > To most people, an expiration date on a drug product implies that thereafter the product is not as effective or not as safe. Indeed, a recent survey found that 70% of 1000 respondents said that they probably would not take a prescription drug after its expiration date. While these assumptions may suit the pharmaceutical industry, they are not true. According to a provocative report in The Wall Street Journal [March 28, 2000], manufacturers put expiration dates on drug products for marketing, rather than scientific, reasons. Listerine is classified as a drug by the FDA, so it requires an expiration date. It may have lost some of its effectiveness but probably isn’t unhealthy. The only possible problem I can see is if it’s been contaminated (say, by your spit). ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/6 "2002-11-27T07:17:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > **…Nah! too easy.** [ul]😃 [sup]But I can’t resist![/sup] \*\*NO! Because it’s BAD to begin with. \*\*[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cacti)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/7 "2002-11-27T07:18:57Z")
You are assuming that we do not think that Listerine© is “Bad”? ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-listerine-go-bad/139013/8 "2002-11-27T15:40:15Z")
Thanks for the info, I didn’t really think there was anything, but was curious to see if there was something I was missing. What’s with all the Listerine bashers, eh? Mine is the ‘blue’ flavor, I admitt the original is horrible.