listerine: original or "zero" variant?

Factual Questions
1

is their “zero” variant not as effective as their original version? curiously, haven’t seen much “zero” on the shelves lately … while the original continues it’s domain.

i’ve been using listerine (original) for the past 30+ years … last year, when the “zero” variant surfaced … my dentist suggested i should use it. after a couple weeks of using “zero” … my dry-mouth disappeared … and the crust/sand (meibum) around my eyelids dramatically lessened.

but also, since using the “zero” … my gingivitis seems more prevalent and persistent … and, surreptitiously, my gums seem to be more sensitive.

so, my question is this … has anyone read/heard anything derogatory about listerine “zero” … are they stopping manufacture of it … due to some problem?

about my hygienic habits … floss 'n brush daily … mouth-wash two or three times daily. am male in late 50’s.

2

sorry for barging in
but what about generic /no-name mouthwash substitutes.
What is so special about Listerine that it costs three times as much to buy.
Brand premium only ?

3

Listerine is the only mouthwash approved by FDA to prevent gingivitis, but that is because J&J pays a price for that. Equate, sold at Walmart, at a much cheaper price, contains identical ingredients in identical proportions, but the company that manufactures it has not paid FDA. (My guess it is also made by J&J.) Consumer’s Reports stated years ago that Listerine is effective because it contains alcohol. However, alcohol is at a percentage that does not kill germs, and alcohol is listed as an inactive ingredient in both Listerine and Equate. (Dollar Tree also sells Equate, and they also sell Great Value, another Walmart product.)

4

If your *dentist *says use it, then do so, but in general, the alcohol in there is bad for oral hygiene.

Try Biotene. And oral probiotics.

Floss, then use Biotene mouthwash. Use bioten toothpaste twice a day. After meals chew sugar-free gum.

5

The alcohol in the original was said to contribute to cancer by helping the antiseptic penetrate into the tissue.

Note: antiseptic = toxic to human flesh… (minimal but still… )

6

I meant ADA, not FDA.

7

'ppreciated the thoughts and focus … thanks, also, to barbitu8 for the extended research.

8

I dug up this old thread because I read today that mouthwashes do not help with dental hygiene and as DrDeth said those that contain alcohol can actually be bad for dental health. Does anyone have any info in this regard?

9

The alcohol might have been there to numb the senses… to make it so that the aftertaste wasn’t so strong you couldn’t use it again.

You can use other brands, but the taste ??

Of course the main issue is that unless you have no saliva , saliva will wash it all away, which is actually good as it takes the carbs and the bacteria with it too.

Now the zero version may use sweeteners which may promote saliva, and so have no antiseptic and still help to clean the teeth.

10

I find the regular (with alcohol) too strong tasting so I buy a bottle of each, with & without alcohol, and decant them to a 50/50 mix. I often buy the “house brands” or whichever brands are on sale at reduced prices. Their listed contents are identical.

11

There was a thread not too long ago asking about the disinfectant properties of alcoholic drinks (hint, not much), and mouthwash came up too. Supposedly the alcohol has little to no antiseptic properties in mouthwash either, despite quite a high “proof,” it’s just a good solvent for the actual active ingredients.