Those ingredients can be great for your teeth, gums and breath, but not so good for the rest of your body if ingested. Dentists do sometimes employ chlorhexidine mouthwash to treat patients with gum disease. Studies have shown it can reduce inflammation caused by periodontal bacteria. Alcohol: If you have dry mouth, are prone to cavities, or are elderly, skip alcohol as it usually dries your mouth out further and exacerbates bacteria issues, Dr. Rahmani advises. It’s not harmful to most other people, says Dr. Cardall, but it can cause an unpleasant burning sensation, so it’s mostly a personal choice to skip this ingredient or not.

Mouthwash can burn when it contains alcohol. Alcohol is key in many mouthwash formulas thanks to its natural ability to kill bacteria that causes bad breath and gingivitis. That being said, you can definitely find mouthwashes that are alcohol-free and therefore don’t burn when you use them. The ingredients in each mouthwash formula vary slightly — different products work for different purposes.Alcohol is one of the most common mouthwash ingredients. The thought is that alcohol kills bacteria that cause diseases in the mouth, but alcohol in mouthwash isn’t the active ingredient. Alcohol is present to help diffuse other active ingredients, like essential oils. Chen CY, et al. (2012). Antibacterial effect of water-soluble chitosan on representative dental pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli brevis. Salt water is an isotonic solution, which means it contains the same salts and minerals as our body fluids and won’t irritate your gums. Fluoride rinses probably only have a significant effect if you are at an increased risk of dental caries and certainly should not be used as a substitute for brushing with a fluoride toothpaste—you need to do both. Fluoride-containing mouthwash should only be used for patients with high-risk tooth decay. It should be taken under direction from your dental professional. This mouthwash has the ADA Seal of Acceptance to stand behind its effectiveness and safety. Because it contains alcohol, it does burn slightly, and the Freshburst minty flavor is on the stronger side. But the alcohol and bright mint are also great for freshening breath, allowing this mouthwash to do double duty.

Timing. Chlorhexidine should be used after brushing. Don’t brush your teeth, rinse with water, or eat immediately after use. Breastfeeding. Tell your dentist if you’re breastfeeding. It hasn’t been determined whether chlorhexidine is passed to the baby in breastmilk or if it could affect the baby.to 5 stars: These are the best mouthwashes for gingivitis we reviewed. We recommend them without reservation. However, the study was not large enough to provide conclusive evidence and indicated a need for further research. If you have dry mouth, you should also use a toothpaste with fluoride to prevent cavities, and make sure you wait after brushing to use mouthwash so you don't rinse the fluoride away, Dr. Rahmani advises.

Consult your dentist. You should first gain a diagnosis of your problem and get your doctor's recommendation before using a mouthwash.If you consume a large amount of mouthwash, it can cause symptoms like dizziness or drowsiness. In serious instances, you may have trouble breathing or even have convulsions. Let’s be clear: Most people get enough fluoride from their drinking water and toothpaste. But if you have dry mouth or frequent cavities, using a fluoridated mouthwash can help, Dr. Rahmani says.

Carefully supervise your child when using mouthwash. Make sure they’re able to easily spit the mouthwash out into the sink so they don’t accidentally swallow it when trying to reach the basin. If your mouthwash contains fluoride, this ingredient might upset your stomach if you swallow a significant amount.Empty the cup into your mouth and swish it around. Don’t swallow it. Mouthwash isn’t meant for ingesting, and it won’t work if you drink it. The virus can transmit from the nose or mouth of a person with COVID-19 through small particles when they sneeze, cough, breathe, sing, or speak. Hydrogen peroxide is known to cause damage to the cells of the dental pulp. It can cause the tooth nerves to become infected and eventually die (called pulpitis). Do your best to avoid hydrogen peroxide mouthwash. There doesn’t seem to be enough research on the benefits to balance the risks that hydrogen peroxide mouthwash has. According to the American Dental Association, some of the most common active ingredients in what they call “therapeutic mouthwash” — that is, mouthwash designed to kill bacteria that can lead to tooth decay — include: Bleeding gums and bad breath are due to the presence of certain types of bacteria in the mouth. The problem is that little is known about the specific mode of action alcohol has against them. Generally, it’s believed that alcohol destroys bacterial cell walls, but it’s not known whether it is effective against those that cause gum disease and bad breath.