Reasons to Avoid Putting Products with Alcohol in Your Mouth
Alcohol in any form, when put in your mouth, can be detrimental to your oral health, especially if entering your mouth more than twice a day. For example, rinsing with mouthwash containing ethanol – a colorless alcohol – may put you at a higher risk of oral cancer. Many prefer mouthwash with ethanol over alcohol-free mouthwash because of its simultaneous cooling/burning effect in the mouth that makes it feel squeaky clean. This sensation is due to the drying effect of ethanol. In addition, mouthwashes with alcohol often contain chlorine, which kills bacteria, but can cause tooth staining. Long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwash can also alter the functioning of your taste buds.