# Mouthwashes - are they good or bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823 "2011-02-27T18:32:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/1 "2011-02-27T18:32:20Z")
I’ve been merrily using mouthwash every morning after brushing for a few years now, thinking it’s keeping my teeth cleaner and making my breath smell better. But I came across this article recently that seems to say what I’m doing is a bad thing, > **[How to brush your teeth properly](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/08/how-to-brush-your-teeth?INTCMP=SRCH)** > > A dental practitioner delivers the basic drill on how best to look after your teeth the relevant bit saying > [@](#): > > Should you use mouthwash? > > A standard mouthwash can wash away the toothpaste’s beneficial ingredients. “Eating sugar attracts bacteria that deposit acid, and this creates plaque, which erodes the tooth surface. The ingredients in fluoride toothpaste help to reinforce the surface.” Eze thinks mouthwash is only really needed in particular circumstances. “If you have gum disease, your dentist may prescribe certain mouthwashes.” A bit of googling also brings up the factoid that mouthwashes with alcohol should be avoided, but it seems to me that nearly all mouthwashes do contain this. So what’s the straight dope? Am I actually harming my teeth by using mouthwash? ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/2 "2011-02-27T20:11:18Z")
Bump!! I’d like to hear something about this from someone who knows something. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/3 "2011-02-27T20:14:59Z")
My dentist actually suggested that I use a mouthwash while I am brushing… for whatever that’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/4 "2011-02-27T21:15:37Z")
Listerine is the only mouthwash approved by the ADA because it contains alcohol (25% - do not swallow). However, Listerine Total Care does not contain alcohol. Its active ingredient is sodium floride. It advertises that it restores enamel and strengthens teeth. Your Guardian link states that floride (albeit in toothpaste) reinforce the surface. Alcohol kills germs, and that’s why it is ADA approved. My dentist recommends a mouthwash. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/5 "2011-02-27T21:50:28Z")
I use my mouthwash after I floss and before I brush. That way I leave the toothpaste flouride on, but get the benefits of mouthwash, whatever they may be. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/6 "2011-02-27T23:17:23Z")
I have chronic gum problems and my dentist(s) prescribe a mouthwash. It is one of the $4 prescriptions at WalMart. Called chlorhexadene gluconate or some such. It has about 12% alcohol. [A pint of 24 proof for four bucks isn’t bad is it? How much does Listerine cost?] ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/7 "2011-02-28T01:14:01Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > I have chronic gum problems and my dentist(s) prescribe a mouthwash. It is one of the $4 prescriptions at WalMart. Called chlorhexadene gluconate or some such. It has about 12% alcohol. > > [A pint of 24 proof for four bucks isn’t bad is it? How much does Listerine cost?] I don’t remember. I buy the Listerine in a multi-pack at Costco, with a coupon if I have one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/8 "2011-02-28T02:11:24Z")
I threw out my mouthwash when I read this: > [@](#): > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouthwash#Health\_risks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouthwash#Health_risks) > > A literature review by McCullough and Farah from 2008 published in the Dental Journal of Australia concluded that there is “sufficient evidence” that “alcohol-containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer”. The authors also state that the risk of acquiring cancer rises almost five times for users of alcohol-containing mouthwash who neither smoke nor drink (with a higher rate of increase for those who do). However, the American Dental Association disagrees: > [@](#): > > [http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/topics\_cancer\_brief\_mouthrinses.pdf](http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/topics_cancer_brief_mouthrinses.pdf) > > As a result scientific experts generally agree that the weight of the available evidence does not support a connection between oral cancer and alcohol-containing mouthrinse. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/9 "2011-02-28T04:46:08Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I use my mouthwash after I floss and before I brush. That way I leave the toothpaste flouride on, but get the benefits of mouthwash, whatever they may be. You floss before brushing? Interesting–I do the opposite. Are you meant to do it in any special order? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/10 "2011-02-28T10:38:09Z")
I brush, floss, then brush again. Use mouthwash only occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/11 "2011-02-28T10:59:30Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > You floss before brushing? Interesting–I do the opposite. Are you meant to do it in any special order? I switched to flossing before brushing after reading here that it’s supposed to be done that way. The floss dislodges the crap between your teeth, so the toothpaste can get there, too. Perfectly logical to a craftsperson: you clean the surfaces before applying the finish. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/12 "2011-02-28T11:16:50Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > You floss before brushing? Interesting–I do the opposite. Are you meant to do it in any special order? My hygienist recommended flossing first. I figure flossing dislodges stuff, mouthwash helps rinse away a lot of it and brushing gets rid of what remains. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/13 "2011-02-28T11:33:45Z")
I can see how flossing first makes sense - knock out the big chunks and get at the bits that are too far up for the brush to reach. But I’d brush before rinsing: Toothpaste is an abrasive (kinda like sandpaper), and you use it with the brush to scrub the plaque off of your teeth and gums. Then once you’ve scraped most of it off, I figure it’s time to use the mouthwash on whatever is left. Had a dentist who recommended using mouthwash, but only _in addition_ to brushing and flossing. It can’t really do much by itself because a lot of the stuff in your mouth is pretty stubbornly stuck on to begin with or else it’d have been rinsed off by your spit. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/14 "2011-02-28T12:00:28Z")
The premise of the OP was that mouthwash last rinses off the flouride from the toothpaste that should remain on your teeth after a water rinse. I use mouthwash in addition to bushing and flossing too, just in between! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/15 "2011-02-28T12:03:13Z")
But don’t we get fluoride in our drinking water anyways? ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/16 "2011-02-28T12:32:30Z")
Uh, The Guardian runs an article that suggests mouthwash is a bad idea. The English. Renowned for their teeth.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/17 "2011-02-28T13:09:20Z")
> [@toofs](#): > > Uh, The Guardian runs an article that suggests mouthwash is a bad idea. The English. Renowned for their teeth.😃 The great unasked question here is whether or not they have been using mouthwash this whole time. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/18 "2011-02-28T14:59:50Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > But don’t we get fluoride in our drinking water anyways? Not everyone. Some municipalities don’t add it and people on well water, or who drink mostly bottled water, do not get supplemented either. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/19 "2011-02-28T15:14:29Z")
My ENT told me to NEVER use mouthwash. The alcohol dries up everything inside the mouth/nasal cavity. Over time, this can have detrimental effects on your sinuses, throat, etc. I still use it, but very occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823/20 "2011-02-28T16:35:16Z")
I gargle with alcoholic mouthwash as part of my daily shower. I started doing it on recommendation from my doctor to reduce the chance of recurrence of tonsillitis. (The preferred saltwater gargle makes me gag.) I swish it between my teeth after gargling. After spitting it out, I then rinse my mouth with water. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwashes-are-they-good-or-bad/572823.md?page=2)