“Feel the burn” might apply to exercise, but not to mouthwash – the burning sensation you get is not improving your dental health, but actually making it worse.
Q: Why does Listerine burn? - Sholom C.
A:
Listerine contains various ingredients called isomers like eucalyptol, menthol, thymol and methyl salicylate which can be mild irritants to your skin but they are the ones who kill the germs. Listerine has around 26% ethanol weight per volume (less now due to oral cancer fears), which means it cannot actually kill all mouth bacteria completely. What it does is it dissolves these ingredients into your gums, teeth and tongue. A burning sensation can be felt whenever these active ingredients come in contact with your mouth and gum tissues.
Don’t use this mouthwash, it’s bad for your oral health and really accomplishes nothing it claims it does.
What to Read Next
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The Oral Microbiome
Hydroxyapatite Vs. Fluoride: How Do They Compare?
Benefits of Oral Probiotics & Best Strains
Oral probiotics are good bacteria strains that crowd out bad bacteria in the mouth for better oral health. They are most effective in chewable or lozenge form.
