Metal Mouth Message Board

Just a question really if anyone knows why some mouthwashes have and some do not have alcohol?

When i switched dentists a couple of years ago i mentioned to him that sometimes i get sensitive teeth and he told me to go and buy Colgate Flouriguard i think it is which i did and it helped but now i am thinking do i really want one with alcohol as colgate do another mouthwash in similar packaging without the alcohol.

Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks

Hi, Emma.

Alcohol is used in mouthwashes because it kills bacteria. This is useful because it helps both to preserve the mouthwash and to kill bacteria in your mouth (it's bacteria that create plaque). HOWEVER the alcohol in mouthwashes can also dry out and irritate your gums (which in turn can lead to more bacterial growth and gingivitis) and has been linked to an increased risk in oral cancers.

So basically it has it's good points and it's bad points.

Also most alcohol free mouth-washes contain cetylpyridinium chloride and/or chlorhexidine to kill bacteria instead (some mouthwashes with alcohol have it too); the trouble with both these compounds is that they can stain your teeth, especially chlorhexidine and especially when you have braces. Apparently most people are OK with cetylpyridinium chloride, but it really didn't agree with my tooth enamel and has left me with brown patches on the inside of my teeth (thank goodness it's the inside!) . I was using Dentyl pH which is SUPPOSED to be non-staining, but contains cetylpyridinium chloride and it got to the point where my orthodontist (your orthodontist ) was polishing my teeth at every visit because the staining was so dramatic (I wasn't even asking him too) and constantly asking if I was drinking lots of tea/coffee/red wine (which I don't).

I'm not "allowed" to use any mouthwash containing alcohol because I suffer/suffered (it's greatly improved since I had jaw surgery) from air gingivitis which the alcohol would have aggravated, so I've now switched to Oral B sensitive, which along with Blanx (an Italian brand I believe, but you can get it in some supermarkets) seem to be the only mouthwashes I can find that are free from alcohol AND cetylpyridinium chloride AND chlorhexidine. My maxiofacial surgeon (who I believe is the chairman of the British Dental Foundation or something) recommended that people with braces don't use mouthwashes at all because of the staining risk, but I seem to be doing ok with this one and the staining from the Dentyl pH is gradually fading.

I asked my hygienist about what kind of mouthwash to use after she was done putting my braces on. She said she likes Listerine without alcohol because she doesn't like the burn. Nothing about staining or bacteria growth, just a personal preference. I use Listernine Total Care for Sensitive teeth. http://estb.msn.com/i/B8/705F2F9DE03649 ... 7A8C1E.jpg It doesn't burn that bad at all and if it does I just spit it out!

I have been using a mouthwash that contains alcohol, because it was the only one I could find that doesn't contain the ingredient cetylpyridinium chloride (like sarahorsomeone mentions, it can stain the teeth) - I did some reseach a couple of months back looking into why some mouthwash stains/discolours the teeth and found out it can be the ingredients that sarahorsomeone mentioned.

I was previously using another one that didn't contain alcohol and liked it, but I stopped using it after realising the ingredients. That's just me though, I guess I get paranoid about any further staining of my teeth.

The alcohol mouthwash I've been using lately seems to upset my gums and makes my mouth dry . I stopped using it a couple of weeks ago because of this, but I can't find a mouthwash that doesn't contain alcohol and cetylpyridinium chloride... I can either have one or the other! I need to find one ASAP though, because I like to rinse with moutwash after flossing to flush away those nasty bits... yuk!

There was a thread a while back about natural ingredient mouthwashes. I wonder if anyone has found one?

Hi Emma

Hope you're getting on Ok with your braces.

My ortho gave me a bottle of Colgate Fluorigard Daily Alcohol Free mouth wash.

Here's a link so you can see what it looks like (Boots sell it)

http://www.dentalshop.co.uk/acatalog/Fluorigard.html

It says it's clinically proven to reduce decay by up to 40% & strengthens tooth enamel.

It contains fluoride (which I think alot of toothpastes contain) & tastes & smells lovely I find.
The smell reminds me of my dentist when I was younger. I swear it smelt just like this. Happy memories of my childhood he he.

I continue to use it because i've had no problems with it & becuase my ortho gave it me for some reason

Hope this helps a little

x

Thank you for all your replys, i guess its just about what agrees with the individual then.

Sarahorsomeone - I was told to use the Colgate Flouriguard by my normal dentist, when i first visited southend hospital before they moved the max department i noticed they sold it so i thought i was doing fine then i noticed the blue one which is what i was using contains alcohol so when i went to the supermarket this week i bought the green alcohol free one but it does contain the other ingredient so i will have to wait and see if it starts to stain my teeth. I'll ask Spencer when i next go in.

It seems so weird that someone on the forum knows who i am talking about.............. such a small world.

Lulu - Doing fine with my braces although i still dont think much has moved i went in just before christmas and had my tops adjusted and bottoms placed - he left the same wire on the tops and just changed the ligs as he didnt think i was ready for the next wire - i get the impression my old teeth and bones aren't as plyable as they once were!! The link you've sent is the exact one i has just bought - was blue but now green. Are you noticing much movement?

Emmauk wrote:Lulu - Doing fine with my braces although i still dont think much has moved i went in just before christmas and had my tops adjusted and bottoms placed - he left the same wire on the tops and just changed the ligs as he didnt think i was ready for the next wire - i get the impression my old teeth and bones aren't as plyable as they once were!! The link you've sent is the exact one i has just bought - was blue but now green. Are you noticing much movement?

Sorry I didn't read your original post very well. You did say you used the same one oops

I have noticed movement but not for a while now I don't think. I've had a gap appear on my lowers (check my pics on my story)
but the other tooth that needs to move in exactly the same way hasn't moved yet & it's getting on my nerves, because until they're where they should be I can't move on & doubt i'll get the front 4 bracketed until then

I had my first adjustment & uppers fitted just before Christmas & no change on my uppers not that I can see yet anyway. My lowers he just tightened the wire & changed my ligs.
Had no pain what so ever from my lowers this time.

x

Emmauk wrote:Sarahorsomeone - I was told to use the Colgate Flouriguard by my normal dentist, when i first visited southend hospital before they moved the max department i noticed they sold it so i thought i was doing fine then i noticed the blue one which is what i was using contains alcohol so when i went to the supermarket this week i bought the green alcohol free one but it does contain the other ingredient so i will have to wait and see if it starts to stain my teeth. I'll ask Spencer when i next go in.

I'm sure you'll be fine with the Flouriguard and you're right that's what they sell at Southend. Our orthodontist* didn't think there was too much problem with the Cetylpyridinium stuff, and it seems to be fine for most people. I'm just basing that on what I've read on the internet, personal experience and what my surgeon said; not trying to advice people away from mouthwashes containing it. Even if it did stain your teeth a little, it's only surface staining (which is why it polished away), it was just getting ridiculous in my case; it was starting to look like I had brown teeth! Our orthodontist* used to prescribe me a mouthwash which was literally just a basic sodium fluoride solution that you diluted yourself (which doesn't prevent bacteria and plaque, but strengthens your enamel via chemical reaction) but he's not allowed to do that anymore for some reason.. something to do with budgets or the fact it had a very short shelf-life I seem to recall.

Oh another reason for the choice between alcohol and alcohol-free that I meant to add is that some people don't like the idea of using anything with alcohol in it for personal reasons, such as religion or maybe they're just worried that the kids might drink it! I can't imagine them selling the alcohol version at Southend for that reason (even forgetting about dental health)... it seems to be mostly adolescents that go that clinic and they don't really want to be supplying juveniles with alcohol . I'm now rather enjoying the mental image of 14 year-olds staggering round the street, being asked who supplied them with alcohol and then blaming their orthodontist!

*Sorry, can't get my head around referring to him by his first name since it feels like I've been seeing him since birth (even though I know that's not the case)! My head is stuck thinking of him as a "grown-up" and myself as a child... even if I saw him in 30 years time I think I'd probably feel that way. When my surgeon refers to him by his first name I almost have to double-check myself that we're talking about the same person.

I think one of the problems with alcohol is that it 'dries' your mouth, and that's not a great thing if you have braces inside. I guess taking alcohol drinks should be the same.

I keep far from alcohol mouthwash but, emmm, well I still drink some wine & beer