If mouthwash is a regular part of your oral hygiene regime, you are probably used to its trademark tingling sensation as its active ingredients kill bacteria. This tingling sensation is perfectly usual, although this should be the extent of any reaction you feel to the product. But what about if mouthwash actually causes discomfort or even mild pain? This can be a sign that something might be amiss in your mouth, or it could be a sign that traditional mouthwash isn't the best choice for you.
Potential Reasons for Irritation
If it feels as though this discomfort has come on rapidly, or even suddenly, there might be an underlying dental issue that needs to be addressed. If the discomfort is localised to a specific site in your mouth, examine it in the mirror as much as is possible. There could be a small mouth ulcer, or even a ruptured dental abscess. This latter option is unlikely to have gone unnoticed, since a dental abscess would have already caused noticeable discomfort in the tooth it has emanated from. But still, the ethanol (alcohol) present in many types of mouthwash would have caused irritation to your oral lesion. If the discomfort seems to affecting your entire mouth, it can also be a sign of gingivitis, wherein the gingival sulcus has become inflamed or even infected. Your dentist can treat these causes, allowing you to resume using mouthwash without irritation. But what about when your oral health is uncompromised and mouthwash still causes irritation?
Alternatives
In rare cases, it might be that you have an intolerance to alcohol, triggered by the presence of ethanol in your mouthwash. This would not be as pronounced as intolerance caused by the ingestion of alcohol, since you are in fact expelling the mouthwash. But still, it can cause localised irritation simply by coming into contact with your gum tissues and the interior of your mouth. If it's determined that you should discontinue the use of traditional mouthwash, there are a number of alternatives.
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You could simply use an ethanol-free mouthwash, one which might have cetylpyridinium chloride as its active ingredient. It can lead to mild surface stains on your teeth, but it's simple enough to have this removed.
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You could use a salt-water rinse as mouthwash. This still has antiseptic qualities, but is infinitely more mild than an ethanol-based product.
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You could discontinue any form of mouthwash and use a water flosser. This shoots a concentrated stream of water into the gaps between your teeth, dislodging food debris. You then simply rinse your mouth with water.
So when that tingling becomes something more, it might be time to reevaluate your oral hygiene regime. It's also important to visit your dentist to rule out any underlying causes for the irritation.
