Mouthwash should be a key part of your oral care routine. First of all, it’s liquid, which means that it can penetrate every single part of your oral cavity, even those areas that you would otherwise be unable to reach (even with floss). Second, it has anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, which means that it cleans your mouth more thoroughly.
Now, if you’ve ever been on a shopping spree looking for mouthwash, you probably noticed that some bottles are labeled as alcohol-free. The implication of this is that there are some that are alcohol-based, which begs the question – why are there two types, and which is better? More importantly, why is this such a point of contention that some marketers go out of their way to turn it into a USP (unique selling proposition)?
Well, let’s find out.
- Killing bacteria
Alcohol is undoubtedly stronger. This means that if you’re just aiming for the optimal disinfectant, going with an alcohol-based mouthwash should be a no-brainer. No matter how well-made, alcohol-free disinfectant are just an alternative. They’re the next-best thing with fewer downsides.
Alcohol is one of the oldest disinfectants in the world. It has an inherent antimicrobial property. Due to their chemical composition, they can denature and coagulate proteins, which disrupts their cell wall, killing them in the process. This is something that the oldest doctors in the world noticed even before they knew about the existence of this tiny living world of proteins and bacteria.
Non-alcoholic may not be as effective at killing bacteria but they are not useless either. Although more powerful, alcohol is not the only thing that kills bacteria. Just keep in mind that there is a wide range of alcohol-free mouthwashes and that you have to do your research before setting your mind on one.
Non-alcoholic is not as effective at reducing plaque, but it’s better than nothing. The key reason plaque forms is that some food leftovers are left for hours in areas that a toothpick, toothbrush, or floss can’t reach. Well, the liquid reaches everywhere. Even rinsing with water would help, let alone using an actual mouthwash.
- Freshness of breath
A lot of people who use alcohol-based mouthwash are completely oblivious to its positive impact on oral hygiene. Sure, they assume that it does help, but a lot of people just pick it up after looking for ways how to maintain fresh breath.
Alcohol provides a sense of freshness on its own, seeing as how the majority of people associate the smell of alcohol with something sterile. After all, the majority of people wash their wounds with alcohol, and it’s present in a lot of cleaning supplies. Overall, the freshness will always be there.
To achieve the same effect, alcohol-free mouthwashes usually add some minty flavor to their mixes. Don’t get us wrong; chewing on things like eucalyptus will help with the health of your teeth and gums. However, the majority of mouthwash manufacturers do this for the sense of freshness.
Just keep in mind that, to give full effect, you can’t stop with mouthwash. You also want to floss, brush your teeth, and use a tongue scraper. Most importantly, the freshness of breath has more to do with the overall health of your mouth and your diet than anything else. Sure, you should use mouthwash, but it should be alcohol-based or alcohol-free. You shouldn’t rely on mouthwash to do all the heavy lifting for you.
- Gum disease
Because it’s so effective at fighting bacteria, alcohol can help prevent a lot of gum disease. They do this by killing bacteria, reducing plaque, and controlling inflammation. The simplest explanation is something that we’ve already given in the first segment – bacteria cause most gum diseases, and alcohol is great at killing them.
The key lies in consistency. The biggest problem with assessing the effectiveness of mouthwash in keeping you safe lies in one simple question – do you use it regularly? If the answer is no, there’s not much point in trying to assess the effect of mouthwash on your overall dental health.
Also, everyone has a different saliva composition, different teeth, and different dietary habits. All of these factors are in, as well.
However, if you already have gum disease, it might not be a good idea to use alcohol-based mouthwash. Tiny wounds that you have in your mouth may hurt quite a bit when they get in touch with alcohol, and while it is burning, the amount of disinfection that you’re getting this way isn’t enough to justify it. Still, in this scenario, it’s always best to look for a periodontist and ask for a professional opinion.
- Alcohol content
The alcohol content can be more problematic than you think for a number of reasons.
First, there’s the burning sensation for people who already have wounds in their mouth or who have sensitive gums. We’ve already gone to lengths to discuss this. The chemical activates the same nerve receptors that a boiling water or open flame would (to a lesser degree) of course but this is the main reason why the sensation feels like burning.
Then, there are people with a history of alcohol abuse. Sure, the quantities of alcohol in alcohol-based mouthwash are not enough for you to get intoxicated (or get in trouble if pulled over by cops). The problem, however, lies in the fact that the smell and the taste may be a bit too familiar, which could start some pretty problematic emotional triggers.
Lastly, alcohol has some dehydrating properties. This means that it’s not the best thing for your dental health and that, while it does bring freshness, this effect won’t last as long as it would with an alcohol-free mouthwash.
Wrap up
In the end, alcohol-based mouthwash is more potent in every aspect, but it has some side-effects. Now, these side effects are not as relevant to all people, and there are some who might be bothered by them more than others. Alcohol-free, although not as potent, has virtually no downsides. Since they are effective in their own right, you should be fine as long as you use them.
