Herbs Used in Pharmaceutical Preparation of Mouth Washes

Mouthwashes are formulated to kill bacteria and germs that cause bad breath. They are also used to reduce cavities and the onset of gingivitis; some brands claim to whiten teeth as well. Most pharmaceutical mouthwashes are made with alcohol, saccharin, sodium chlorite, benzalkonium chloride and fluoride (and a bit of mint to leave a fresh feeling in the mouth), ingredients that seem to do more harm than good.

Significance

• When a person thinks of mouthwashes, the brands that come to mind may be Scope, Listerine or Lavoris, popular products that you can find at your drugstore or grocery. However, of the three listed brands, only one is made with natural herbs, and no harmful chemicals or alcohol is added to kill germs; this product is Lavoris. Consumers are finding out that mouthwashes that do not contain alcohol and saccharin are safer and more effective for children as well as for the elderly.

Features

• As a conscientious shopper wanting to purchase a mouthwash product that is safe and effective, you must read the ingredients on the back label. Mouthwashes made with herbs contain such ingredients as aloe vera, witch hazel, bayberry, white oak bark, tea tree oil, horse chestnut and Indian penny wart to name a few. They may also contain ingredients such as peppermint extract, clove extract, cinnamon extract and myrth extract, which are ingredients that are derived from plants.

Types

• When looking for herbal ingredients, you are not going to find them in brand names such as Scope, Listerine or Colgate Total Plax mouthwash. However, you will find them in products such as Lavoris, Biotene and Tea Tree Oil mouthwashes. You will also find that Denta Force, Peri-Gum Mouth Wash, Kiss My Face and Jason's Nutri Smile are brand-name mouthwashes that use nothing but herbs.

Function

• Herbs in mouthwashes take the place of harmful chemicals. For instance, Peri-Gum Mouth Wash is made with cayenne, bloodroot, echinacea, bayberry and peppermint oil. Jason's Nutri Smile products are made with grapefruit seed extract, cinnamon and orange peel oil. Denta Force mouthwash uses 13 essential oils or extracts, some of which are sage extract, anise oil, sandalwood and peppermint oil. All of these herbs work to take care of bad breath, fight plaque, strengthen gums and fight against gingivitis, leaving a person with a healthy mouth without the man-made chemicals.

Benefits

• Most mouthwashes on the market use harmful ingredients such as alcohol and saccharin. Though the mouth washes are temporarily effective, harmful ingredients can aid in drying out the mouth. A dry mouth harbors germs. The effect of mouthwashes made with herbs such as sage not only gets rid of bad breath, but also acts as an antiseptic to get rid of infections that may be causing bad breath. Using a mouthwash made with fennel, mint or parsley will also get rid of problem bacteria while keeping the mouth moist. It will not leave a strong burning taste in the mouth, nor will it damage sensitive tissue in the mouth.