Is the burn good or bad?

For many years, your choices in mouthwash were either Scope or Listerine. But as awareness of mouthwash has increased, so have your options; however, Listerine still seems to be the brand most people think about when they hear the word “mouthwash.”

The bad news is, the burning is still the thought that comes to most people’s mind when they think of Listerine. Listerine has been around for decades, but while the company has tried to improve its image by coming out with different flavors, the main ingredients remain the same… with the most noxious and unsafe ingredients being the alcohols.

The alcohols in Listerine (and in Scope and other store-branded bottles) cause a drying effect in the mouth. Alcohol is not what makes Listerine work. Alcohol burns your mouth not because its working, but rather that it is irritating the tissue.

That’s the burning sensation you feel that ultimately makes you want to spit sooner than later. It is also that drying power that naturally causes more cells to die, resulting in an increased probability of having oral cancer. With all this being said, we recommend alcohol-free mouthwashes.

Is the burn good or bad?