# Does mouthwash really need to be so nuketastic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2005, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235 "2005-10-21T09:51:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/41 "2005-10-24T19:02:03Z")
Crest makes a mouthwash that is much sweeter, but the problem I experienced with that is the bubbles. You can’t gargle without bubbles coming out of your mouth; you look like one of the Three Stooges who has just swallowed a bar of soap. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/42 "2005-10-24T19:08:31Z")
I tried the blue stuff once. Is it just me, or does that stuff taste exactly like toilet bowl cleaner smells? It’s green and maybe yellow for me. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/43 "2005-10-24T19:09:53Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Not everyone experiences mouthwash this way, though. > > While we’re in here – just what proportion of people actually feel pain from mouthwash? Can we ahzard a guess? Personally I think that if you don’t feel the burn using standard Listerine then you’re either not holding/swishing enough or have built up a fortress-like layer of skin on your gums. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/44 "2005-10-24T21:28:52Z")
Listerine and the normal Scope also have that effect on me. I’ve found that the Scope ‘freshmint’ rather than ‘peppermint’ is much less painful and almost pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/45 "2005-10-29T04:07:23Z")
I thought everybody knew that it’s Listerine that feels like somebody just napalmed your mouth (i love the taste of napalm in the morning). Scope and the rest ain’t got nuthin on Listerine. Really. After 10 seconds… it HURTS. BAD. We’re talking eyes tearing and sphincter shrinking pain. But there is this weird feeling of accomplishment and cleanliness that comes with sticking it out. Try it. It’s gotta be Listerine tho, not this mamsy-pamsy Scope or Crest. That stuff is sugar-water. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/46 "2005-10-29T05:52:26Z")
To answer the OP, no. But plenty of consumers apparently think nuketastic = effective at killing germs. For many, many years medicines were judged by the number of repulsive ingredients they contained (blood, poop and Fear Factor fodder) to chase out demons, etc. Lots of people swear by Buckley’s cough syrup (it tastes bad, and it works). Neither Buckley’s nor mouthwash needs to be painful, but folks like it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/47 "2005-10-29T12:55:20Z")
There are several kinds of antibacterial mouthrinses that don’t burn Lavoris Crest pro health rinse Biotene ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/48 "2005-10-29T13:05:41Z")
You can add Scope to that list. However Scope and Lavoris are just for bad breath, they aren’t designed to fight gingivitis or plaque. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/49 "2005-10-29T13:49:23Z")
\*\*cshsharpmajor \*\*- DO NOT GARGLE WITH PURE EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL! Sorry, for shouting and all, but that would be a really, really dumb thing to do. Eucalyptus E.O., like most essential oils, is very toxic if not diluted. At best, you’ll chemically burn and peel all the mucosa in your mouth and throat. At worst, you’ll absorb enough through your mucus membranes and into your blood stream that you’ll die. Really, really dumb. Don’t do it. There’s probably only about 5-10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in any mouthwash. You simply cannot gargle with a safe amount of it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/50 "2005-10-29T13:50:47Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Really, really dumb. Don’t do it. There’s probably only about 5-10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in any mouthwash. You simply cannot gargle with a safe amount of it. That should read “only about 5-10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in any **full bottle of** mouthwash.” Seriously. Bad Idea. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/51 "2005-10-30T01:25:43Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > \*\*cshsharpmajor \*\*- DO NOT GARGLE WITH PURE EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL! > > Sorry, for shouting and all, but that would be a really, really dumb thing to do. Eucalyptus E.O., like most essential oils, is very toxic if not diluted. At best, you’ll chemically burn and peel all the mucosa in your mouth and throat. At worst, you’ll absorb enough through your mucus membranes and into your blood stream that you’ll die. > > Really, really dumb. Don’t do it. There’s probably only about 5-10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in any mouthwash. You simply cannot gargle with a safe amount of it. Relax, I realise 🆒 My whole bottle only contains maybe a large mouthful of the stuff, and I’m not about to go gargling with a whole mouthful of anything with POISON printed in large letters down the side. I made a small sample of 22% ethanol with a drop of eucalyptus oil and it actually tastes WORSE than regular Listerine, and more like paint stripper. So. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/52 "2005-10-30T12:36:46Z")
> [@csharpmajor](#): > > Relax, I realise 🆒 My whole bottle only contains maybe a large mouthful of the stuff, and I’m not about to go gargling with a whole mouthful of anything with POISON printed in large letters down the side. I made a small sample of 22% ethanol with a drop of eucalyptus oil and it actually tastes WORSE than regular Listerine, and more like paint stripper. So. _wipes brow_ phew! OK. I like you way too much to have to end up in the news, an apparent victim of a koala hitman! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/53 "2005-10-30T21:54:55Z")
I just went and gargled with a new bottle of Scope Original Mint I forgot I had. No burn whatsoever, but it got so frothy that I had to spit it out after 10-15 seconds because the frothiness grossed me out. So if alcohol kills germs, what ingredients work against gingivitis and plaque? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/54 "2005-10-31T02:06:14Z")
It’s specifically the thymol, eucalyptol, and menthol. Cite. (page 2) > **[E\_Plaque.pdf](https://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/E_Plaque.pdf)** ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235/55 "2005-10-31T03:06:39Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > I tried that Crest stuff and it left me with the most horrible aftertaste for a couple of hours. Ick. I’ll stick to my knock-off Listerine if I want to use mouthwash. Same here. The problem I have with the high alcohol content stuff is that if I swallow even just a little bit, I have terrible reflux during the night. I’m currently rinsing with the store stuff in the AM and occasionally at night, but only if I’ll be sitting upright for a long time after. “I just gargled, honey - my breath is minty fresh, but sadly there will be NO SEX FOR YOU!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mouthwash-really-need-to-be-so-nuketastic/327235.md?page=2)