Pros and Cons of Mouthwash With Alcohol

Many people wonder about the pros and cons of mouthwash with alcohol. It is a common ingredient in many mouthwashes today. It is found in mouthwashes marketed for babies and children, as well as regular mouthwashes. There are health concerns about the possible long term effects of this chemical on their oral health. Below we will evaluate the pros and cons of mouthwash with alcohol.

Many parents use mouthwash to clean their babies' teeth. If you were to look at the labels on the back of most of these products, you would see that it contains alcohol. The alcohol in the mouthwash loosens up plaque. While this may be beneficial in cleaning the teeth, over time this can create other problems for the baby's health. Some studies have shown that there can be significant changes in the health of an infant if they were to drink the mouthwash.

In adults, alcohol mouthwashes have similar effects. A glass of red wine with a meal can easily cause an alcohol based mouthwash to be unnecessary. Some people choose to use an alcohol based mouthwash simply because they do not like the taste of another type. For others, it is simply a matter of cost.

Many dentists do not recommend the use of any type of mouthwash with alcohol. Some of them recommend that patients avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes, at all costs. These doctors argue that the alcohol in the mouthwash will irritate their patients gums. Over time, the irritation can result in dental problems. Not to mention that there is increased risk of cancer of the mouth due to the increased acidity of the Pros and cons of mouthwash with alcohol.

Some dentists recommend that patients who need to use an alcohol based mouthwash should purchase a product that contains an anti-bacterial ingredient. Studies have shown that anti-bacterial mouthwashes are more effective than the alcohol versions at preventing tooth decay. The anti-bacterial agent in the mouthwash will also work to eliminate bad breath from any foods or drink that is ingested. For these reasons, many dentists recommend that their patients avoid mouthwash with alcohol.

Other pros and cons of mouthwash with alcohol would include possible short-term effects. Many of these would only last for the period of the mouthwash, such as redness, dry mouth or a temporary gum sensitivity. Some would not go as far as to say that the mouthwash would make the problem worse. However, one who does state that if you do drink alcohol while using mouthwash, you could end up hurting the enamel of your teeth by not rinsing out properly. This is because the alcohol in the mouthwash can dry out the mouth. If this ends up being the case, it may be better to simply rinse your mouth with regular mouthwash after using the alcohol mouthwash.

One con of mouthwash with alcohol is the fact that it may cause staining of the teeth. This would occur if you used mouthwash with alcohol and dentist colored mouthwashes. Although this may only happen in certain situations, it is a concern as the stains would stick onto the front part of your teeth. It may also cause problems with your enamel because the plaque build up can get carried off when you floss.

Overall, there is no clear cut answer to whether mouthwash with alcohol is worth it or not. However, the pros do state that a little alcohol in your mouth every day will not hurt, however, some people will find that mouthwash with alcohol-based ingredients can actually help to preserve dental health. The only way to know for sure is to try the alcohol based mouthwash for yourself and see if it has any unwanted side effects on you.

Last updated