Why does mouthwash burn your mouth?

Mouthwashes are antiseptic solutions that help in cleaning your mouth, freshening your breath, and killing oral bacteria. Similarly, supplementing your dental hygiene routine with fluoride mouthwashes helps in providing fluoride for cavity protection. Swishing your mouth with this fluid for 30 seconds to 1 minute is recommended.

Everyone feels a mild tingling sensation while using oral rinses. It is common but you should concern if the liquid causes a burning sensation.

What are the types of mouthwashes?   

Before seeing why some oral rinses tend to burn our mouths, we have to discuss the different kinds of mouthwashes available. It is because the constituents of a mouthwash trigger burning feel in most cases. The primary ingredients of oral rinses vary for each kind.

There are 2 types of mouthwashes people are using nowadays:

• Cosmetic mouthwashes – The cosmetic mouth rinses are formulated to freshen our breath. It holds limited benefits like controlling bad breath, dislodging food particles trapped between the teeth. Hence they do not contain any chemical components thereby the cosmetic mouth rinses do not harm you.
• Therapeutic mouthwashes – As the name implies, this oral rinse holds many therapeutic advantages such as mouth cleansing, preventing gingivitis, tooth decay, etc. Hence they are composed of antibacterial agents like alcohol, chlorhexidine.

Why do mouthwashes burn when you gargle?

Many mouthwash products brand that the mild discomforts are signs indicating the oral rinse is working. If you notice acute pain or burning while rinsing, it means you are using the product wrong or you are allergic to any of the ingredients in your mouthwash.

Here are the main ingredients responsible for mouthwash burns:

• Alcohol – Alcohol is an active ingredient present in most mouthwashes. As alcohol is antiseptic, it is efficient in killing oral bacteria. Some mouthwash brands are formulated with about 25% alcohol. If you swish your mouth with those fluids regularly, it will burn the soft oral tissues.
• Chlorhexidine – Chlorhexidine is a biguanide compound that holds antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It helps in reducing plaque build-up thereby preventing gum diseases as well. Some people experience allergic responses like itching, swelling, burning sensation when they touch this compound.
• Menthol – Menthol is a naturally-forming chemical found in mint plants. It also shows allergic responses like burns for some people.

In essence, mouthwash burns are mainly occurring due to the alcohol compounds present in oral rinses. Hence you should switch to alcohol-free mouthwashes.

On the other hand, you will encounter mouthwash burns if you have a high level of sensitivity to the oral rinse ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, essential oils even after using alcohol-free mouthwashes.

What you should do if a mouthwash provokes a burning sensation in your mouth?

You should stop using that mouthwash or try to dilute by adding some water before swishing. If you neglect the warning sign, the sensitive compounds will tend to break down any of the soft tissues and lead to ulcers.

Hence it is essential to see the ingredients in oral rinses before purchasing. If you notice that you are sensitive to any of the constituents in the fluid, consult your dentist to get the right mouthwash suitable for you.

Similarly, you can try various DIY natural mouthwashes that are also effective as those available in the market. We have already shared the recipes of some homemade mouthwashes in one of our earlier posts.

Contact our dentists to know more about preventing mouthwash burns.