Alcohol usually gets all the blame for the burning sensation you feel from certain mouthwashes, but in fact the burning sensation usually comes from essential oils in the mouth rinse. When I tell people this it usually comes as a big shock, but I am sure that most people have experienced similar burning sensations from cinnamon because of it’s essential oils, so it shouldn’t be all that surprising.
Although alcohol unfortunately does dry out your mouth, which can enhance the burning sensation you feel, alcohol ultimately isn’t the cause of the burning you’re feeling. Interestingly, alcohol isn’t actually added to mouthwashes to fight plaque, in reality it is present as a solvent to keep the other ingredients dissolved in solution.
The traditional culprit when we think of burning is Listerine. As we have mentioned before on the blog, Listerine relies on a special blend of essential oils to kill bacteria, and while these essential oils are great at fighting plaque they also tend to irritate the insides of our mouths, which is where the burning comes from. Some these essential oils are also responsible for the increased staining sometimes seen with phenolic mouthwashes.
Some of you might be wondering….what about Listerine Zero then, doesn’t it have less alcohol and less burning?
I hear this question a lot, and actually the newer Listerine Zero, which is marketed as a “less intense” mouthwash with no alcohol, gets it’s lower intensity from the fact that it has far less essential oils. It is likely that without the alcohol added as a solvent they could not maintain the same levels of essential oils in their formula.
Additionally, because the concentrations of essential oils in Listerine Zero have been reduced, it cannot be advertised that the rinse is antiseptic like other versions of Listerine (there also will be less phenolics that might cause staining). If you don’t believe, me just look at the bottle, the antiseptic label is not longer present and the essential oils/“Flavors” are way down the list of ingredients indicating lower concentrations.
I hope you all found this post interesting. It should make for great discussion at cocktail parties 😉
"We recently moved to the Chesapeake area and needed an orthodontist that could continue treatment for our two kiddos. Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics made our transition seamless and even provided an Invisalign option. The staff is amazing and the facilities are top notch!"
"This is an OUTSTANDING team of dental professionals. We are greeted with smiles every time and wait less than 5 minutes to be called back for our appointment. This is EXCEPTIONAL when compared to the usual, long waiting room wait in MANY practices. The changing seasonal themes is always surprising and enjoyable. THIS IS NOT THE USUAL MEDICAL FACILITY OFTEN VISITED. Doctors Frey and Hatcher are personable, very friendly and HAPPY to work with their patients. Theirs is the most pleasant office to visit and this team is competent and approachable all the time. I'd GIVE THEM A 10 if I could!"
"We absolutely LOVE Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics. I have 3 daughters who went through braces for about ten years (2002-2012). Now, I am wearing Invisalign. They have been consistently professional and offer the very best care. I highly recommend them."
"We love Dr. Hatcher and Dr. Frey! They are super thorough when you go in for an evaluation, and give you pricing up front. I visited a different local orthodontist, who wouldn’t give a price until after we started... they are detailed in the plan and the outcome is terrific! It is a wonderful practice with an amazing team! I highly recommend them!!"
"I can't tell you how astonished I was with the customer service, everyone here is affectionate, and kind. I feel respected and important here. I am a current patient with crowding problems; Invisalign was what I went with because It doesn't seem too much of a chore to keep up with rather than braces. Thanks Dr. Hatcher for your stunning care; I know I'm in good hands and can't wait to see a different smile in the near future. I hope if you've read this far you choose to come here even if you live far away; it's definitely worth the drive. I would recommend this to anyone who is in need of an orthodontist."
"Got my braces off today after 29 months of wearing them. When I came to Dr. Hatcher back in June 2017, my teeth looked like they were beat by Negan's bat, Lucille, from TWD. Today, I am a brand new person that has been cured of my zombie teeth apocalypse! Thank you Dr Hatcher, Shawna, and the rest of the staff! Your hard work has paid off and will not be forgotten. I will think of you every time I smile."
"Five stars I scheduled a consult after seeing photos of Dr Frey’s cases with early development utilizing Invisalign. I also felt orthodontics should start early not late and I wanted the best for my 5yr old twins. I was blown away with Dr Frey’s clinical skills, understanding of sleep apnea in children, his updated technology and ability to do digital scans instead of impressions totally shows his education and expertise, but my biggest compliment was how well they treated my family. It’s care that is surpasses any practice I’ve seen. Thank you for educating us and giving us a sound treatment plan."
"Dr. Hatcher is wonderful and the staff is exceptional! We have had a very positive experience here with both of our daughters. They go above and beyond and I recommend them to anyone who is looking for an orthodontist. They make you feel like family and the kids love going to their appointments. State of the art technology is used to transform smiles from good to great!"
"Dr. Scott Frey is an amazing Orthodontist and very caring. The most important thing which many people don't understand is it's not just straightening your teeth but knowing your bite is right for the lifetime of functioning. It's well worth the investment and time to do it right, so it won't cost you even more down the road. I give him 5 stars!"
"What a great experience! We were referred to Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics by our pediatric dentist’s office and they are very helpful and professional. Couldn't have had a better team to help my now 13-year-old achieve her perfect smile."