5 little known facts about mouthwash

Mouthwashes temporarily erase bad breath, and it's germ-killing power can provide long lasting results. There are some common  questions about mouthwash, though, and here is where we wash away the myths.

The long-lingering fear that the alcohol in mouthwash causes cancer of the mouth and pharynx turns out to be unfounded. According to a review in the Journal of the American Dental Association, most studies have found no link between mouthwash and cancer.

Some people say that mouthwash containing alcohol stings and causes their mouths to become dry. If you have a condition that causes dry mouth, such as Sjögren's syndrome, swishing with an alcohol-based mouthwash will make it worse. However, the alcohol in mouthwash doesn't appear to be a serious health threat for most people. In one study, researchers examined the mouths of people who rinsed with popular brands of mouthwash three times a day for two weeks and found no evidence of inflammation, skin ulcers or other damage.

Using antiseptic mouthwash too often can cause an unsightly condition with a name right out of a horror movie. Black hairy tongue occurs when the tongue turns dark and the tiny bumps that line its surface become overgrown.

Oral rinses that contain antiseptics do indeed kill germs that live in your mouth, but they don't protect against or treat the common cold. In 1978, the US Federal Trade Commission ordered the maker of one popular brand of mouthwash to stop claiming that it prevented colds.

In 2005, a court ordered the maker of that same popular mouthwash to stop claiming that its product cleaned teeth as effectively as dental floss, since the scientific evidence suggested otherwise.

These hopefully will answer some of the questions that still surround this effective bad breath killer and let you rest at ease about gurgling that next dose.