Table of contents:
- Chlorhexidine gluconate
- Methyl salicylate
- Ethanol or alcohol
- Hydrogen peroxide
- What you need to know before using mouthwash
Mouthwash is often used to clean the oral cavity and teeth more cleanly than regular toothbrushes. Various studies have shown that brushing teeth can only remove plaque as much as 50%, therefore it is advisable to use anti-bacterial mouthwash to help clean the oral cavity. However, mouthwash actually consists of sharing chemicals that should not be ingested and have a bad effect if they enter the body. What are the ingredients that are often in mouthwash and what are the effects if swallowed?
Chlorhexidine gluconate
This substance is a substance that is useful as an antiseptic. Like other antiseptics, this substance works to remove bacteria and germs that are in the mouth. When you rinse your mouth with mouthwash, this substance will leave a feeling of discomfort in the mouth. If you are allergic to chlorhexidine gluconate, then various symptoms will appear such as irritation of the mouth, dry mouth, and decreased sensitivity of the sense of taste. Meanwhile, if accidentally swallowed, the side effects it will cause are nausea, vomiting, and stomach irritation.
Methyl salicylate
Methyl salicylate is a menthol substance that gives a cool sensation when used. Usually, this substance is used in the ingredients of various drugs for pain relief. Methyl salicylate can cause poisoning if swallowed in large quantities. The initial symptoms of poisoning are burning in the esophagus, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating, fever, and hearing problems. While the long-term effects if ingested by methyl salicylate are difficulty breathing, vomiting-can be accompanied by blood, hearing loss, hallucinations, headaches, and seizures.
Ethanol or alcohol
In general, the alcohol or ethanol content in mouthwash is 5 to 25%, depending on the brand of each mouthwash. The use of mouthwash that contains high ethanol can increase the risk of developing oral cancer. Research conducted in America on people who frequently use mouthwash high in alcohol, shows that the use of mouthwash in this group increases the risk of oral cancer by up to three times.
In addition, according to one pharmacist from California, the alcohol component in the mouthwash is higher in content than the alcohol contained in wine or other liquor. So if the mouthwash is swallowed and is poisoned, the effects that appear will be the same as the symptoms of consuming alcohol, such as hallucinations, burning in the throat, and discomfort in the stomach for short-term effects. While the long-term effects that can be caused are various damage to organs, such as damage to the kidneys, liver, and the risk of heart disease.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an antiseptic that is often used as an ingredient in mouthwash, because this substance functions to reduce irritation to the mouth, reduce dental caries, and remove plaque on the teeth. Although the hydrogen peroxide in mouthwash is safe to use in small amounts, it can cause poisoning if ingested in large amounts. Symptoms that appear after ingesting hydrogen peroxide are irritation of the stomach, redness of the skin, nausea, and vomiting.
What you need to know before using mouthwash
Actually, the use of mouthwash must be accompanied by brushing clean teeth, because mouthwash cannot replace the function of a toothbrush. A professor of dental and oral hygiene from Boston University School of Dental Medicine, said that mouthwash can work effectively to help remove plaque and freshen breathing, if previously brushed your teeth cleanly. Mouthwash only helps reduce bacteria and germs, it cannot clean the oral cavity as a whole.
The effect of swallowing mouthwash varies widely, depending on the amount of mouthwash that is swallowed, if swallowed in small amounts, the only symptoms may be stomach upset or nausea. However, if ingested in sufficient quantities, it can cause adverse effects on the body. In addition, the symptoms of poisoning caused by ingesting mouthwash also depend on various factors such as age, body weight, and the brand of mouthwash that is ingested. Mouthwashes that contain higher levels of toxic substances, such as alcohol and methyl salicylates, will have more serious effects, as will younger age and less weight.
