Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash: All Sizes and Flavors Review

I had gum surgery. My dentist told me to rinse with Listerine. I prefer to avoid products with alcohol because they contribute to dry mouth. As a dry mouth sufferer I use mouth products without alcohol. I asked him if I could use Biotine but he said it didn't have an antiseptic. I then asked if I could use Crest Pro-Health which I used for my last two gum surgeries with a different dentist. He said I could. So why did I end up with Vanilla Mint Listerine?

A Closer View

I don't know the reason but I started reading some consumers' feelings about Crest Pro-Health. Over and over again I read that it led to brown spots on people's teeth. I never experienced that. I had bought the Crest Pro-Health and returned it the next day. I decided to go with Listerine in spite of perhaps some dry mouth issues. I chose the 8.5 ounce plastic bottle in the Vanilla Mint flavor. The bottle claims that it is less intense but equally effective. We are told that it kills germs that cause bad breath, plaque and gingivitis, which is a gum disease. It is an antiseptic.

The active ingredients are eucalyptol .092%; menthol .042%; methyl salicylate .060% and thymol .064%. These are all antiplaque/antigingivitus ingredients. The inactive ingredients are water, alcohol (21.6%), sorbitol solution, flavor, poloxamer 407, benzoic acid, sucralose, sodium benzoate, propylene glycol alginate, FD&C yellow no. 6, FD&C Blue no. 1

Children under 12 years old should not use Listerine. Of course you are not supposed to swallow it but you should rinse with it full strength for 30 seconds with about 4 teaspoons.

My experiences

The most important factor in all this is that my gum area has not gotten infected. I get the stitches out tomorrow. I was never on an antibiotic.

The second factor is the taste. It is true that Vanilla Mint Listerine is not as intense as the original flavor. However, after having the liquid in my mouth for lots of seconds my mouth starts to burn and I can't wait to spit it out. The taste isn't bad at all though so that's the really great part.

Some interesting points

There are no gluten ingredients in Listerine but it isn't tested for gluten per se so although the company says there is no gluten there really is no way of knowing if it hasn't been tested for such.

Listerine Mouthwash has not been tested on animals. Please note: we don't know if the ingredients in the product have been tested though. When I read a statement like that I wonder if the final product wasn't tested or what part of the Listerine is really cruelty free.
Listerine is not Kosher.

Vanilla Mint has 21.6% ABV (alcohol by volume).

Listerine is not recommended for soaking orthodontic appliances.

Listerine does not contain any kind of peanut product.

Pregnant women can use Listerine but talk with your doctor anyway.

Jo's Viewpoint
I like it!

 www.listerine.com