Mouthwash is a very popular oral hygiene product and many people like to use it after they clean their teeth. There are many different brands, flavours and types of mouthwash available and it can be difficult to choose the right product; if you have any questions about choosing products or you are not sure which one would be best for your oral health needs, consult a dentist or a dental hygienist and they will be able to make recommendations.

It is possible to buy mouthwash that contains alcohol, as well as alcohol-free products; some people are wary about using mouthwashes that contain alcohol because they tend to burn and there are health concerns over the safety of products that contain alcohol.

Advantages of alcohol-free mouthwash

Mouthwash can kill a vast array of microbes that live in your mouth and many that can cause damage to your teeth, read more about oral microbiology on British Dentistry. Many people prefer to use alcohol-free mouthwash because it is more pleasant (there is no burning sensation when you gargle) and it has fewer risks. There are some studies, which suggest that using mouthwash presents risks for your health, with some mouthwash products containing around 20 per cent alcohol, which equates to more than a glass of wine. There is evidence to suggest that using alcohol mouthwash can increase the risk of oral cancer, a form of cancer, which affects the throat, tongue or soft tissue in the mouth and studies have also shown that using mouthwash can trigger relapse in recovering alcoholics.

Professor Michael McCullough, from Melbourne University, was involved in a study, which was published in the Dental Journal of Australia, and said that mouthwashes that contain alcohol should really only be available on short-term prescriptions, as they can be carcinogenic and they also cause problems because the mouthwash is broken down in the mouth, before the alcohol reaches the liver.

Disadvantages of alcohol-free mouthwash

Alcohol mouthwash was very popular, especially among people who were prone to bad breath; however, stories in the media and advice from dentists has caused alcohol-free products to become more popular. It was thought that products that contain alcohol were more effective in killing bacteria and therefore reducing the risk of decay and gum disease than alcohol-free mouthwash, but there are products that do not contain alcohol that are equally effective. The experts at Oral-B recommend products that contain CPC, cetylpyridinium chloride, which has been found to be both effective and safe.

CPC works by binding to the surfaces of the germs and destroying them by causing them to explode, which prevents bacteria from collecting on the teeth and along the gum line.

If you are unsure which type of mouthwash to buy, it is best to talk to your dentist.

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