Therapeutic mouthwashes include ingredients designed to provide long-lasting bacterial reduction and can be used for conditions such as receding gums, gingivitis, dry mouth, and plaque buildup. They’re available over-the-counter and by prescription. What do you want your mouthwash for? We collected fecal and oral samples from participants in two Iranian cohorts located in rural Yazd ( n = 46) and urban Gonbad ( n = 38) and investigated room temperature stability over 4 days of fecal (RNA later and fecal occult blood test [FOBT] cards) and comparability of fecal and oral (OMNIgene ORAL kits and Scope mouthwash) collection methods. We calculated interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) based on 3 alpha and 4 beta diversity metrics and the relative abundance of 3 phyla. After 4 days at room temperature, fecal stability ICCs and ICCs for Scope mouthwash were generally high for all microbial metrics. Similarly, the fecal comparability ICCs for RNA later and FOBT cards were high, ranging from 0.63 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.75) for the relative abundance of Firmicutes to 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89, 0.96) for unweighted Unifrac. Comparability ICCs for OMNIgene ORAL and Scope mouthwash were lower than fecal ICCs, ranging from 0.55 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.70) for the Shannon index to 0.79 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.86) for Bray-Curtis. Overall, RNA later, FOBT cards and Scope mouthwash were stable up to 4 days at room temperature. Samples collected using FOBT cards were generally comparable to RNA later while the OMNIgene ORAL were less similar to Scope mouthwash. Conclusions GBD 2016 Alcohol Collaborators. Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet. 2018;10152(392):1015-1035. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2 and below: We don't recommend mouthwashes for gingivitis with this rating; you won't find any on our list. What to Look for in Mouthwash for Gingivitis Alcohol vs. Alcohol-Free One concern is that chlorhexidine may not be that effective against the particular bacteria known to cause bad breath.

Chlorhexidine mouthwash may be helpful in treating gum disease; however, it is not effective for bad breath. It should always be used under guidance from your dental professional. To initiate fecal and oral collections in prospective cohort studies for microbial analyses, it is essential to understand how field conditions and geographic differences may impact microbial communities. This study aimed to investigate the impact of fecal and oral sample collection methods and room temperature storage on collection samples for studies of the human microbiota. Results Chen CY, et al. (2012). Antibacterial effect of water-soluble chitosan on representative dental pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli brevis. As microbiome measures for feces samples collected using RNA later, FOBT cards and oral samples collected using Scope mouthwash were stable over four days at room temperature, these would be most appropriate for microbial analyses in these populations. However, one collection method should be consistently since each method may induce some differences. Scope Mouthwash logo (1997–2009) Scope Mouthwash logo (2009–present) Scope Outlast logo (2009–2012) Crest PluThe scopepe Outlast logo (2009–2012)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: Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19 enters primarily through the oral and nasal cavity , oral biologists should be included in these studies because they have an in-depth understanding of oral infectious diseases,” said Fine. Results from the differential relative abundance analyses at phylum and genus level for stability of fecal samples are shown in Additional file 2 Table S2. After 4 days at room temperature, fecal samples collected with RNA later had higher levels of one phylum, Actinobacteria (Day-0 mean 0.0137 SD 0.0183, Day-4 mean 0.0203 SD 0.0345, false discovery rate [FDR] for Day-0 and Day-4 comparison = 0.009), and one genus, Collinsella (Day-0 mean 0.0023 SD 0.0038, Day-4 mean 0.0036 SD 0.0058, FDR = 0.006), but lower levels of the genus Coprococcus 3 (Day-0 mean 0.0026 SD 0.0023, Day-4 mean 0.0019 SD 0.0021, FDR = 0.009). There were no statistically significant differences in phylum- or genus-level relative abundances for samples collected by FOBT card after 4 days at room temperature compared to immediately frozen samples. Comparability of fecal samples

For orthodontic patients: this is a good alternative (or supplement) to foam tray applications if you are having orthodontic treatment. Essential oils are extracted from plants that are known to have aromatic or healing properties. Some mouthwashes do have essential oils added to their ingredients. However, you can make your own by adding drops of essential oils to the water. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.If you happen to accidentally gulp down that mouthful of mouthwash, you may experience a little regret afterward in the form of a mildly upset stomach.

Kolikonda MK, et al. (2014). A case of mouthwash as a source of ethanol poisoning: Is there a need to limit alcohol content of mouthwash? Other Ingredients: Most mouthwashes contain other chemicals that help to increase shelf life or give it a desirable color. You should read the label carefully to make sure you know all of the ingredients in the type you are using. If you have an adverse reaction it could be due to one of these substances. The health claims and benefits of mouthwash vary quite a bit, so let’s see which contains what and if they live up to their claims. It’s important that you don’t accidentally swallow fluoride-containing mouthwash, as it can be toxic. Fluoride mouthwash should be avoided in children under seven because the chance is too high that they will swallow it. The daily rinses are probably the most effective and contain about 0.05% fluoride. Weekly or fortnightly mouth rinses at 0.2% are also available.

Worsening bad breath: Alcohol-containing mouthwashes may make dry mouth and halitosis worse since they dry the mouth out more.Soreness, ulcerations, and redness may sometimes occur.

Singh V, Pathak AK, Pal M, Sareen S, Goel K. Comparative evaluation of topical application of turmeric gel and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel in prevention of gingivitis. Natl J Maxillofac Surg. 2015;6(1):67-71. doi:10.4103/0975-5950.168238If your mouthwash contains fluoride, this ingredient might upset your stomach if you swallow a significant amount. If you have children, be cautious of any product containing alcohol that’s in your home, whether it’s mouthwash, hand sanitizer, or other products, all of which have been known to cause cases of intoxication or poisoning. 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. 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.