# Mouthwash questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-questions/375608 "2006-10-07T15:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hogwash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e57/32.png) [@Hogwash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogwash)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-questions/375608/1 "2006-10-07T15:47:18Z")
1. What is the practical difference between an alcohol-free mouthwash and one without alcohol? My hygienist said that I should use an alcohol-free mouthwash because alcohol will dry my mouth out. Why is a dry mouth a problem? Are alcohol-free mouthwashes as effective at protecting teeth and gums as their alcolicious counterparts? 2. Instructions on my Listerine (a brand that contains all that yummy alcohol) say ‘ **Do not** swig from bottle’. I always swig because I am too lazy to measure out the correct amount into the cap twice a day. Why is swigging such a danger that ‘do not’ has to be written in bold type? 3. Is there really any discernable difference between the big brands and generics that I need to worry about? I’m no brand whore, it’s just that I am a bit fussy with mouthwash because I’m paranoid about my teeth. I’d rather save the money and get the supermarket own-brand if I knew it would do at least a reasonable job. I mean, it’s not like Listerine have patents on mouthwash technologies that excuse charging twice as much per bottle, is there? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-questions/375608/2 "2006-10-07T16:08:38Z")
We’re using the alcohol-free Crest these days. I’m sure it has the same ingredients as the other alcohol-free ones, but Mr. K likes the taste so that’s what we buy. The swigging thing…I think that’s a little safeguard so you don’t swallow it accidentally and become one of THOSE kind of people. You know…eyeing the antifreeze will be next. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-questions/375608/3 "2006-10-07T18:19:16Z")
I always use mouthwash with the ADA (American Dental Association) lable on it. Don’t know if it contains alcohol but I’m pretty sure it does. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-questions/375608/4 "2006-10-07T20:44:58Z")
I use the Crest, but my taste buds are killed for half a day after using it. I don’t know if that’s true of others, but I can’t taste anything. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-questions/375608/5 "2006-10-08T01:00:39Z")
I use Chlorhexidine Gluconate (0.12%), which my periodontist prescribes for me. It kills \*everything \*in your mouth that shouldn’t be there, and doesn’t have a disgusting taste. And I also add a little when I use the WaterPik, so it gets under the gum line. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-questions/375608/6 "2006-10-08T02:10:27Z")
[QUOTE=Hogwash] 1. What is the practical difference between an alcohol-free mouthwash and one without alcohol? [/QUOTE] They’re the same. Did you mean one **with** alcohol? [QUOTE=Hogwash] Why is swigging such a danger that ‘do not’ has to be written in bold type? [/QUOTE] In a word, backwash. Germs from your mouth will get into the mouthwash. They would likely be killed by it, but this ‘contamination’ could lead to off-taste flavors in the mouthwash. Especially if you have a big bottle, that you’ll be using for weeks.