Why Does Mouthwash Burn?
Why does mouthwash burn? Listerine is notorious for this. So are plenty of other formulas, though. It can usually be traced back to two things: 1) high alcohol content and 2) essential oils.
That mouthwash burning sensation isn't something you just have to put up with, though. LIVFRESH plaque removal mouthwash has 0.1% alcohol - enough to do its job without the burn. Clinical studies showed it was able to deliver:
- 163% better tartar control
- 114% better gum health
- 72% better plaque reduction
Learn about what’s behind the mouthwash burn below, and why you need mouthwash in the first place.
The Role of Mouthwash in Oral Hygiene
Mouthwash falls into two camps. Cosmetic rinses freshen your breath for about 20 minutes. That's basically it. They’re really not even worth using.
On the other hand, therapeutic rinses have active ingredients that actually eliminate plaque and fight gum disease between brushings. These improve your oral health AND tend to have breath-freshening benefits as a plus.
The burn doesn't tell you which one you're using, though. Both types of rinses can have a very uncomfortable mouthfeel. So, why does mouthwash burn?
Why Does Mouthwash Burn?
It’s usually not a single thing. It’s a combination of culprits, and most big-name brands have all of them in the same bottle.
High Alcohol Content
Typical mouthwashes contain 20-26% alcohol by volume. That's a lot! Take Listerine Cool Mint, for example. It’s one of the most popular therapeutic rinses in the country, but it comes in at 21.6% alcohol.
Why is alcohol even there in the first place, though? It dissolves other active ingredients and kills some bacteria on contact. What it also does, though, is strip the mucosal lining in your mouth and dry everything out.
A dry mouth doesn't just feel bad, either. It makes your oral health worse over time because saliva is your first defense against bacteria and acid.
Why does mouthwash burn so much in the morning compared to the evening? Your mouth is already dehydrated from sleeping for 8 hours without a sip of water. Then you blast it with a ton of alcohol.
Menthol and Essential Oils
Menthol activates cold receptors on contact. It produces that sharp, icy sting on top of the alcohol. Listerine layers essential oils on top of that - eucalyptol and thymol for bacteria, methyl salicylate for additional antiseptic punch.
Don’t get us wrong, these are legitimate ingredients. They're just really aggressive at the concentrations a lot of brands use them in. It’s not just Listerine that’s the problem, either. Listerine vs Crest mouthwash - whatever you use, there’s a chance you’re getting more essential oils than you need.
Individual Sensitivity
Some people handle high alcohol content and essential oils without issue. Others just can’t get themselves to do it twice a day because it’s too harsh. That’s where individual sensitivity comes into play. So, why does mouthwash burn? Here are a few other factors at play:
- Mouth sores and canker sores turn a normal rinse into something you dread.
- Receding gums expose softer tissue that’s more reactive to alcohol.
- People with braces deal with small cuts from brackets and wires that make the mouthwash burning way sharper. The best mouthwash for braces can help with this.
- Medications that dry the mouth out strip your natural saliva buffer, so the same formula hits harder than it otherwise would.
Even something as simple as age plays a role, since mucosal tissue thins over time.
Is the Mouthwash Burn a Necessary Evil?
This is the misconception we want to clear up. The burn feels like it's doing something, so people just put up with it. But high alcohol and aggressive essential oils aren't the only way to deliver therapeutic ingredients into your mouth.
Alcohol-free mouthwashes have been on shelves for years, but a lot of them overcorrect. Drop the alcohol, drop the essential oils, and nothing left in the bottle is doing anything for your oral health. We talk about this in our alcohol vs non alcohol mouthwash comparison.
CPC-based rinses can work, just not as well as essential oil formulas. Similarly, people who got tired of the mouthwash burning and switched to fully alcohol-free are just trading effectiveness for comfort without realizing it.
Low alcohol is the better answer. There’s a sweet spot where the active ingredients get carried into the biofilm without stripping your tissue raw. You don't need 21% alcohol to do that.
Get the Benefits of Mouthwash Without the Burn
LIVFRESH is the best mouthwash for plaque removal and the best mouthwash for bleeding gums according to clinical studies and dental professionals.
Yet, it only uses 0.1% alcohol. That’s all it takes to carry the patented Activated Edathamil ingredient into the plaque biofilm, where it penetrates and pulls out the metal ions bacteria rely on to anchor themselves to your teeth. New plaque can’t get a grip once those ions are gone.
The rinse helps improve gum health by 114% more than leading alternatives and stops bleeding gums in as few as four weeks. Backed by 40 clinical studies. Trusted by millions.
Mouthwash burning doesn’t have to be part of your morning. Get a better rinse today.
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