How to Clean With Listerine

Antiseptic mouthwashes are just one component of ensuring a healthy and lasting smile. Listerine was created in 1879 by Dr. Joseph Lawrence and Jordan Wheat Lambert. According to the Listerine site, a combination of eucalyptol, methol, methyl salicylate and thymol are used to loosen plaque and fight germ growth. Over 1 billion people worldwide have used the product since its inception, says the Listerine website. Using Listerine correctly is a matter of following a few simple steps to ensure its effectiveness.

Things You'll Need

• Toothbrush
• Floss
• Listerine mouthwash

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Contact your dentist before using the mouthwash. Follow the recommendation he gives. Several brands and solutions are available, and some are catered to particular dental issues.

• 2

  Prepare teeth for mouthwash use. Brush and floss your teeth before using the mouthwash. Determine the proper dosage. Different brands of Listerine need different amounts of liquid. Use 20 mL if you are using Listerine Tartar Control. According to the Listerine website, rinse at night before sleeping to battle germs that multiply during sleep.

• 3

  Pour Listerine into your mouth. Shut lips and keep your upper and lower teeth apart. Swirl the Listerine around in your mouth, sucking back and forth using your tongue and cheek. Swish around for thirty seconds. Get all sides of your mouth equally. According to the Listerine Tartar Control bottle, do this twice daily.

• 4

  Spit the Listerine into the sink. According to Dr. Dan Peterson with Family Gentile Dental Care, do not smoke, eat or rinse for thirty minutes after using the mouthwash product. Doing so diminishes the effect of the mouthwash.

• 5

  Rinse your mouth out after thirty minutes to clean out any of the left over Listerine.