Is swallowing mouthwash cause problems?

Mouthwash – The antiseptic liquid freshens our breath and aids in complete mouth disinfection by killing harmful microbes that cause cavities, gum diseases, and various dental dilemmas. Dentists & Oral hygienists recommended rinse your mouth for 30 seconds daily with 20 millilitres of mouthwash.

If you do oral rinses with such cleansing liquids, you should not gulp it because it has various detrimental consequences.

In this blog article, Dr Suresh has explained the possible repercussions of mistakenly swallowing mouthwashes and the necessary activities to do in those circumstances.

What are the constituents of mouthwashes?

It is pivotal to be aware of the ingredients in mouthwash because the cleansing liquid contains various chemicals apart from water and alcohol. Mouthwashes are classified into various categories depending on the active ingredients in them. Each has distinctive aftereffects when you swallow them.

For instance, alcohol in the mouthwash enters the bloodstream and causes intoxication.

Mostly, oral rinses contain the following ingredients:

• Water
• Alcohol
• Antibacterial agents
• Oxidizing agents
• Odour-fighting ingredients
• Whitening agents
• Flavouring agents

Those agents involve various essential oils and chemicals such as fluoride, chlorine dioxide, Sodium chlorite, chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium, zinc salts, ketone, terpene, peroxide, etc. The formulations vary for each kind of mouthwash available.

We advise you to look at the ingredients mentioned on the label before purchasing an oral cleansing solution. If you detect any ingredient is toxic, it might cause harmful effects,

If you notice any dangerous ingredients in your mouthwash, avoid using them. They could have adverse effects if you unknowingly swallow or use too much of them.

What will happen if you swallow mouth washing liquid?

If a small amount of mouthwash is ingested, don’t worry. It will cause mild discomfort like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Such queasiness exists for a short while and disappears. In contrast, swallowing a large amount of oral rinsing solution will become toxic and upset your health.

Here are some aftereffects of gulping a mouthful of mouthwash:

• Stomach upset
• Gastric distress
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Difficulty in breathing
• Convolution

Note: It may even lead to coma in very extreme circumstances.

What actions should you take after swallowing mouthwash?

As discussed earlier, gulping a little bit of mouthwash will not harm you except the minor uneasiness. In contrast, you should visit a doctor for swallowing a lot of mouthwash. 

After ingesting the mouthwash, whether it is a tiny or large amount, rinse your mouth out thoroughly with water. Then, drink a cup of milk. These actions will flush the mouthwash from your mouth and dilute the toxins in the consumed mouthwash.

Note: Don’t make yourself vomit with your fingers to expel the ingested mouthwash. Aside from gag reflex, such induced vomit will lead to an array of severe problems like troubled breathing, rapid heartbeat, etc.

Later, visit your doctor for a consultation. They will do the needful to inhibit the chemicals being absorbed into the bloodstream so that various disastrous effects can be averted. Depending on your needs, the doctor would provide any of the following therapeutic solutions:

• Medications
• Intravenous fluids
• Laxatives
• Breathing support

The likelihood of negative effects from ingesting oral rinse liquids can be reduced by doing the following:

• Use Alcohol-free mouthwashes
• Prefer homemade natural mouthwashes
• Use a small amount of mouthwash (4 tsp or 20 millilitres) per session.

Bottom line

You might know the famous saying, “Too much of anything is good for nothing”. It applies to your oral hygiene activities as well. If you swallow or excessively use mouthwashes, it will hurt the oral tissues. Hence it would help if you used the rinsing solution as directed.

Remember that it is pivotal to supervise your little champs when they use mouthwashes. It is because swallowing mouthwashes will create more severe problems for kids when compared to adults.

Likely, you must pick the right mouthwash that caters to your needs amidst the variety of oral rinsing liquids available.