Can Rinsing With Listerine Replace Brushing?

Jessica Simpson admitted in an interview recently that she brushes her teeth only “now and again.” Instead of brushing, she uses Listerine and her sweater.

It goes without saying that not brushing your teeth is, well, gross, and can also lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other problems. However, using Listerine as a substitute for brushing seems to be pretty common. I’d like to explain how dangerous this is.

Alcohol-containing Mouthwashes Are Thought to Cause Cancer

You know that burning sensation you feel when using Listerine? That’s the alcohol drying out the mouth – which causes cells to die and increases your risk of oral cancer.

Crest, Scope, and Listerine are not the only culprits. Don’t buy any mouthwash with alcohol, namely ethanol, in it. Chlorine dioxide is another ingredient you want to stay away from.

Alcohol-containing Mouthwashes Worsen Bad Breath

In addition to increasing your cancer risk, these mouthwashes don’t even do what they’re supposed to! The high levels of alcohol in Listerine makes bad breath worse by drying out the mouth. Don’t be tricked by the “minty” flavor of your Listerine or Scope mouthwash – that’s just a masking agent.

The fix for bad breath is this: Brush and floss your teeth after each meal. It’s that simple. If you still want to use mouthwash, go with Tom’s of Maine’s alcohol-free mouthwash, but don’t use it as a replacement for brushing. I don’t know about you, but, unlike Jessica, I’d still like to have my teeth at age 60 and beyond.

White Teeth Do Not Equate With Healthy Teeth

I’ve seen a lot of talk about how Jessica doesn’t need to brush since she whitens her teeth. This is dead wrong.

Whitening teeth does not remove plaque, which is the colorless deposit that is constantly forming around the gums and teeth. Plaque produces acid from bacteria in the mouth and basically breaks down enamel.

Plaque is also responsible for gum disease, tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, and…bad breath!

Ditch the mouthwash and use a toothbrush and floss instead.

Mark Burhenne DDS