Can you use expired mouthwash? Which is a commonly asked question among mouthwash users.But first thing to consider is,Is there anything in this world that will last an infinite amount of time?
No there is not.Everything has its expiration date.
As for any chemical substance, when the chemical loses its effectiveness after a certain duration of time,that’s when we can call the chemical past its expiration date.
As for mouthwash,it is also a chemical substance and regarding its uses after its expiration date,there are various kinds of factors that need to be considered.
And in this article we will break down each and every factor and pose a detailed discussion about it.You just have to stick with us to know more about these facts.
Does the expiration vary according to mouthwash type?
Does the expiration date can be varied by the types of mouthwash? Which is a frequently asked question.
And the answer is yes,it can vary according to mouthwash type. There are different types of mouthwash such as mouthwash with chlorhexidine,mouthwash free of alcohol,mouthwash with listerine in it etc. different substances have different effects,so the expiration can be varied according to the substances in it.
If you want to know more about it,there are detailed explanations given below which I think will satisfy your satisfaction.
Can I use expired chlorhexidine?
Is it harmful to use expired chlorhexidine? It is normal for people to ask such questions because Chlorhexidine is one of the key ingredients in the mouthwash.
The answer to that question is Yes. It is harmful to use mouthwash containing expired chlorhexidine. There might be no harmful effect at all because of the expired chlorhexidine but it will definitely do no good to your oral hygiene. But there is a small chance that it will pose a threat to your oral hygiene.
Does alcohol free mouthwash expire?
Does an alcohol free mouthwash expire?or how long does it take to expire? A commonly asked question by its users because alcohol is an important substance in the mouthwash.
Yes.The alcohol free mouthwash does expire. In fact it expires more quickly than the alcohol based mouthwash. Because alcohol is an important element in the mouthwash which keeps the mouthwash free from any kind of bacteria.That’s why an alcohol free mouthwash is more vulnerable to the bacteria which can reduce the effectiveness of the mouthwash.
Can you use expired listerine mouthwash?
Is it safe to use expired listerine products or can we use expired listerine mouthwash? It is a very common question for those who are using listerine containing mouthwash.
The simple answer would be No. Listerine contains fluoride which is responsible for keeping your gum healthy and creating a defensive system against sensitivity.Any kind of listerine products can be used upto 12 month after it has been opened.After the expiration the fluoride in the listerine will not work,in fact it may cause to your oral system.
So it is not wise to use a mouthwash after it past its expiration date.
Side effects of alcohol free mouthwash
Is alcohol a necessary element in the mouthwash?
Well.Yes it is. Alcohol act as solvent in the mouthwash which keep bacteria away from the mouthwash.Without the alcohol in it,the mouthwash expire more quickly.That’s why it is necessary to keep alcohol in the mouthwash
There are some consequences or should I say side effects of using an alcohol free mouthwash.Such as:
- Removal of healthy oral microbiome
- Rise of cancer risk
- Teeth staining
What is magic mouthwash?
So what exactly is a magic mouthwash?and what does it do?
It’s a mouthwash which is normally prescribed by the doctors when you have a certain condition like oral mucositis.After you are done with any kind of cancer treatment,the Oral mucositis occur as a side effect to that treatment.
Does magic mouthwash expire?
So is it wise to use magic mouthwash after its expiration date?
The answer is definitely No.The magic mouthwash has some serious side effects such as soreness,nausea,pain,dryness etc.
So it is definitely not recommended to use a magic mouthwash after it passes its expiration date.
How long can you use mouthwash after the expiration date?
People normally buy mouthwash with the intention of long term use.That’s why it is very common for people who wanna buy mouthwash to ask such questions as how long can they use their mouthwash after the expiration date?
Well,the straightforward answer is that you should stop using the mouthwash immediately after the expiration date.Normally a mouthwash can last upto 2 to 3 years.After 2 to 3 years,the antiseptic in the mouthwash dissolve and increase bacterial infection exponentially.
That’s why it is better to stop using the mouthwash immediately after the expiration date in order to prevent bacterial infection to the teeth.
What happens if you use expired mouthwash?
Is the mouthwash an essential aspect to keep your oral hygiene clean and healthy?Well,It is an important aspect to keep oral hygiene neat & clean.There are various types of preservatives and chemical elements in the mouthwash that keeps our mouth fresh from bad odor.That’s why people might want to know what happens if they use expired mouthwash?
Well,the expired products means that the ingredients in the mouthwash will have degraded which will not very likely protect you from the different kinds of bad diseases and bad odor.But there is a small amount of chances that the expired mouthwash may pose a threat to your oral hygiene.Because of the degradation of the alcohol in the mouthwash,the bacteria may gather in the chemical and using the mouthwash may cause harm to your teeth.
So it is not wise to use the expired mouthwash.Because it neither helps or creates any major problem in your mouth.In fact there is a slight chance that it creates a bacterial infection in your mouth.
Bottomline:
Simply put like any other substances,mouthwash does expire and it is not wise to use an expired mouthwash.
The mouthwash contains different kinds of substances such as alcohol,listerine,chlorhexidine etc.
The alcohol keeps the mouthwash free from the attacks of bacteria.
The listerine contains fluoride which will keep your gum healthy and remove bad odor from your mouth.
But when the mouthwash goes past its expiration date,these substances will lose their effectiveness and help you no further.
So using them will not benefit you,in fact they might create problems to your oral system such as oral infection.
That’s why it is in your best of interest not to use any kind of expired mouthwash.
