A Fresh Look at Mouthwashes—What Is Inside and What Is It For?

Dominik Radzki, Marta Wilhelm-Węglarz, Katarzyna Pruska, Aida Kusiak and Iwona Ordyniec-Kwaśnica
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Dominik Radzki: Department of Periodontology and Oral Mucosa Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-208 Gdańsk, Poland
Marta Wilhelm-Węglarz: Department of Dental Prosthetics, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-208 Gdańsk, Poland
Katarzyna Pruska: Division of Molecular Bacteriology, Institute of Medical Biotechnology and Experimental Oncology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211 Gdańsk, Poland
Aida Kusiak: Department of Periodontology and Oral Mucosa Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-208 Gdańsk, Poland
Iwona Ordyniec-Kwaśnica: Department of Dental Prosthetics, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-208 Gdańsk, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-27

Abstract: Mouthwashes are a very popular additional oral hygiene element and there are plenty of individual products, whose compositions are in a state of flux. The aim of our study was to investigate the compositions of mouthwashes and their functions, as well as to discuss their effectiveness in preventing and curing oral diseases and side effects. We searched for mouthwashes available on the market in Poland. We identified 241 individual mouthwash products. The extraction of compositions was performed and functions of the ingredients were assessed. Then, analysis was performed. The evaluation revealed that there are plenty of ingredients, but a typical mouthwash is a water–glycerine mixture and consists of additional sweetener, surfactant, preservative, and some colourant and flavouring agent, as well as usually having two oral health substances, anticaries sodium fluoride and antimicrobial essential oils. The effectiveness or side effects of several substances of mouthwashes were thoroughly discussed. We recommend not multiplying individual mouthwash products and their ingredients beyond medical or pharmaceutical necessity, especially without scientific proof.

Keywords: mouthwashes; oral hygiene; oral diseases; sodium bicarbonate; stannous fluoride; essential oils; glycerine; ethanol; zinc compounds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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