Listerine Zero cause sloughing? Is this normal?
 

I have been using Listerine's ZERO mouth wash for a couple days now, and I have noticed some sloughing of the insides of my cheek.

Also when I wake up there is this slimey residue inside my mouth.

My mouth is fresh and odor free, but the only thing that concerns me is the skin peeling on the insides of my cheek. It doesn't hurt at all, but just a bit concerning.

Should I stop using it? Will it be harmful if I continue to use it?
This is a non alcoholic mouthwash and was recommended by my dentist, so I'm not sure why this is happening.

Please advise. Thank you.

It has a lot of ingredients... https://www.listerine.com/mouthwash/...ash#directions

I'd find something a bit more natural.
https://www.google.com/search?q=natu...ural+mouthwash

I have not used Listerine in years and I used to buy a more natural mouthwash, Spry at health food stores or online. There are many harsh unnatural ingredients in all commerical mouth care products...since making my own coconut oil TP, I don't need a mouthwash.

lifeolife,

The reason many conventional dentists recommend products like Listerine are because they are endorsed by the American Dental Association which is the grand poo pah of the dental industry. The endorsement is not because the product is good but rather because the ADA has some financial stake in the manufacturing and/or distribution of the product.

Mouthwash like Listerine is not a necessity in oral home care. In fact the only (short term) benefit of it is usually to mask bad breath. If you thoroughly brush your teeth twice a day, floss them and scrape your tongue once a day, your breath should be clean and not unpleasant. If you do those things and your breath is not clean, then the problem can be due to any or a combination of the following:

*gum disease, decayed teeth, medications that decrease the salivary flow, certain foods you eat or digestive or other health disorders.

Mouthwash is meant to kill germs and it does. The problem is that is cannot differentiate between the good and the bad germs. So it kills everything. The mouth naturally has many beneficial germs that are needed to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Killing those germs with mouthwash will pre dispose the user to tooth decay and gum disease. These are things your dentist should really be informing you about.

The sloughing off of the gum tissue is indicates an allergic type reaction or a sensitivity to one or more chemicals in the product. This is not a healthy reaction to have and can result in breaking down the healthy tissue of your gums causing problems that may not be repairable.

If you want to "freshen you breath" after you brush with something that will not have any negative affect on your oral health, you can dilute a couple drops of an edible essential oil like peppermint or other mint in 3 oz of water.

If you continue to use the product the sloughing of the tissue will continue and your gums will become sore and irritated. The same thing can happen with the inside of your cheeks, the tongue, the palate, etc. Because you have only been using it for a couple of days, if you discontinue it, the sloughing should stop and things should return to normal with a couple of days.

Hope this information helps.
Bryanna

I checked the ingredients... one is listed=
methyl salicylate (a form of aspirin)

https://www.listerine.com/mouthwash/...rid|7697126447

click on inert ingredients

This is a form of salicylic acid, which cause skin shedding.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_salicylate

You might think about rinsing with plain water, after using the mouth wash.
This acidic wash may not be good for your enamel either.

Ingredients...
 

Inactive Ingredients in Listerine Zero Mouthwash....

Water
Sorbitol
Propylene Glycol
Poloxamer 407
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Eucalyptol
Benzoic Acid
Sodium Benzoate
Methyl Salicylate
Thymol
Sodium Saccharin
Menthol
Flavor
Sucralose
Green 3

The word inactive does not mean NOT ACTIVE to the tissues.

The FDA requires an "active" ingredient show therapeutic actions via studies etc.

The category "inactive" means there is no claim that these ingredients are therapeutic in any way. There are some OTC products that have some inactive listings containing substances that do have some actions in the body.
It is confusing, unfortunately.

Salicylic acid is found in acne products, and used by dermatologists to remove dead or infected skin topically.

Here is the oral rinse I used for a couple yrs and the ingredient listing is like day/night, black/white....without the Green dye. Since using CO toothpaste I don't need a rinse.

http://www.xlear.com/store/spry-dent...ral-rinse.html

I have lost faith in our govt agencies like the CDC, ADA, FDA who all do stamps of approval on toxic chemicals to put in our bodies. Thank goodness for the alternative world of medicine. The CDC loves fluoride in our waters.

Look at this ingredient too: Saccharin

Tests 40 yrs ago linked this sweetener to cancer.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/79...ty-toothpaste/

Mrs. D.,

Exactly... that's why I posted them. The term inactive is often misunderstood to mean insignificant.

Thanks for offering the clarification of the term inactive ingredients.

Be well,
Bryanna

Isn't sodium benzoate said to be a potential carcinogen?
That is a long and concerning list of ingredients.
I would consider going with something more natural.

"Isn't sodium benzoate said to be a potential carcinogen?"

I am not sure - it is listed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.

I can't find anything in PubMed which suggests that there is any evidence that it is a carcinogen.

However, I take what I think might be your general point - when I brush my teeth I (as mrsD suggested above) just rinse my mouth with water rather than with Listerine or any other commercial product.

Googled it -
sodium benzoate said to be a potential carcinogen - results link -
https://www.google.com/search?q=sodi...gen&gws_rd=ssl

Oh interesting from LA Times on the skinnygirl drink. I watched the reality show when she was producing it. Never bought it...not my choice.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep...zoate-20110908

Give me the great coconut oil for my mouth health. Just heard from my 19 yr old grandgirl that she is now doing oil pulling. She's become so aware so young..so much info to learn and go with. She ended up with fluorosis from fluoirde baths from dentist>>>> and she's eliminating gluten and has gotten rid of a longterm acne.

It will knock out a sore throat is a minute lol really

Actionable items to repair gums
 

Bryanna, this is such a thoughtful response. I'm concerned about *irreparable gum problems* from your comment that, "This is not a healthy reaction to have and can result in breaking down the healthy tissue of your gums causing problems that may not be repairable." One of my friends uses Listerine Zero on a daily basis, and just went through a gum grafting surgery, with less than optimal results. Besides discontinuing Listerine, are there things that can be done to repair the gums, other than grafting?

When I was buying toothpaste and mouthwash, I bought Spry products for some yrs.

Search - spry mouthwash - iHerb.com

Now for a couple yrs I make my own TP of coconut oil base. And use no more mouthwash, but rinse with hydrogen peroxide before bed.

Grape seed extract keeps my gums healthy and tight. Been taking grape seed ex 22 yrs. It's never too late to start, I was 57 when I first found it, now 79.