Your dentist has encouraged you to include using mouthwash as a part of your at-home oral hygiene routine. Mouthwash is a great complement to flossing and proper teeth brushing because it is a liquid that can penetrate areas of your mouth where floss and a toothbrush can't reach.
Most mouthwashes also contain alcohol, which kills germs and leaves that clean, tingling feeling in your mouth. As much as you want a clean mouth, you haven't included the regular use of mouthwash because it is yet another thing you must do, and you aren't keen on that stinging feeling mouthwash leaves behind.
Your dentist informs you that there is alcohol-free mouthwash available that won't cause that unpleasant stinging or tingling in your mouth.
There are pros and cons to using both types of mouthwash and the one you decide on will give your teeth and gums a better clean than if you didn't use mouthwash at all.
Alcohol-Free Mouthwashes
Pros
- Causes no adverse reaction in children if they accidentally swallow some
- Doesn't give off the burning or tingling feeling in the mouth
- Is a good option for patients who struggle with alcoholism, have sores in the mouth, are diabetic, or who suffer from dry mouth syndrome
- Doesn't dry the mouth out, which is essential in saliva production and oral health condition prevention
- Can have a better effect on the wear, hardness, glossiness, and color of tooth restorations
- Various types of alcohol-free mouth rinses are effective in treating bad breath, dry mouth, tartar and plaque build-up, and the treatment of tooth decay and gum disease
- Contains CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) and active ingredient that treats tooth decay and gum disease
- Contains chlorhexidine gluconate, one of the most effective oral care ingredients in mouthwash
- Freshens breath longer because the natural balance of saliva and bacteria of the mouth isn't disrupted
- It doesn't contain benzalkonium chloride, which can be an allergen, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), saccharin (sugar), or alcohol. Instead, it contains sodium benzoate, sodium bicarbonate, and other ingredients shown to help eliminate bacteria from the mouth.
- cos you don't get that tingling clean feeling or the stinging germ-killing feel
- It's harder to find and can be more expensive
Traditional Alcohol MouthwashesPros
- Is effective at killing germs and bacteria in the mouth
- Contains CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) and active ingredient that treats tooth decay and gum disease
- Contains chlorhexidine gluconate, one of the most effective oral care ingredients in mouthwash
- Give off a clean feeling in the mouth
- ConsContains sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which dries out the mouth leading to bad breath and a reduction in saliva production
- SLS can cause minor damage to the lining of tissue in the mouth
- Can create painful canker sores
- Kills both good and bad bacteria in the mouth
- Fresh breath doesn't last as long
- Not suitable for young children as it can make them sick
- Produces an unpleasant taste in the mouth as well as an uncomfortable stinging and tingling sensation in the mouth
- Only temporarily masks bad breath doesn't get to the cause of it
- Can increase one's risk of oral cancer
Alcohol-free mouthwashes are better suited for children, those with certain health and oral conditions, and those with current dental issues. Traditional alcohol mouthwashes are a good option for those who have healthy bodies and mouths and who don't want to hunt high and low for alcohol-free mouthwash. Both types of mouthwashes have their benefits and drawbacks. No matter which one you choose, however, it shouldn't replace daily teeth brushing and flossing.