Can You Use Mouthwash To Disinfect a Cut? Can Mouthwash Be Used On Mouth Ulcers And Lip Wounds? Can Listerine Be Used To Disinfect a Wound? If you seek answers to these questions, you are on the right page.
Alcohol and other germicides are commonly found in mouthwashes. I imagine that a mouthwash like this would be ideal for disinfecting a cut. They should be safe since they are formulated to be compatible with mucous membrane tissues. But, alcohol is irritating to tissue and may impair immune activity.
Pouring mouthwash on a wound, no matter how small or large, will not be very effective and may likely cause more damage since it contains other chemicals (flavoring agents, coloring agents, preservatives, etc.) whose effects on open cuts are not known. If you have nothing else to use, it is better you use nothing.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Mouthwash On a Wound?
- Mouthwash contains ethyl alcohol and other substances that do not significantly “disinfect” anything.
- Naturally, the body disinfects wounds by itself unless you prevent it from doing so by pouring toxins like alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine into the wound.
- The body knows how to heal itself unless you keep on delaying the healing process with the above-mentioned chemicals.
- Mouthwash contains chemicals (flavoring agents, coloring agents, preservatives, etc.) whose effects on open cuts are not known.
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Instead of using mouthwash to disinfect a cut, simply clean the wound with clean tap water. Clean the skin around the wound with mild hand soap and tap water, pat it dry with a clean towel, cover it with a clean dressing, and then get out of the way and let the body heal itself!
If you just give your body a chance and avoid delaying the healing process by using a mouthwash on it, it knows how to heal minor injuries and even more severe injuries.
Can Mouthwash Be Used On Mouth Ulcers And Lip Wounds?
Most likely. There isn’t a lot of alcohol in mouthwashes. However, keep in mind that the sort of alcohol used in mouthwashes, despite being Ethyl alcohol, is not intended for consumption, but rather for killing odor-causing bacteria in the mouth. Mouthwash is not meant to be swallowed. It’s just used to rinse the mouth and then spit it out.
However, if you have ulcers or lip wounds, it’s much easier to cover the sores with cream (like Orajel or Anbesol) so they can heal properly. Inquire with your dentist or pharmacist about the best cream to use. Mouthwash removes bacteria from sores but has no direct effect on healing.
A study on the effect of various mouthwashes on wound healing after tooth extraction showed that mouthwash helps foster good oral hygiene and in this way lessen the number of complications. This is shown by the decreased frequency rate of gingivitis and also the opinions of the patients. Their reports confirm that there is less foetor ox ore, pain and functional insufficiency in mastication. Based on these facts we can state that mouthrinses considerably helps complication-free healing.
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Can Listerine Be Used To Disinfect a Cut?
NO, Listerine should not be used to disinfect a wound. Do not use Listerine or other mouthwash on open wounds. It is ineffective and may delay healing by irritating the new cells that your body is trying to produce to solve the problem. Instead, rinse the wound with clean tap water, clean the intact skin around the wound with regular, gentle hand soap, rinse off the soap, cover the wound, and let your body take care of the rest.
If you are concerned or believe you have an infection, seek medical attention.
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Conclusion
Using mouthwash to disinfect a cut is not an ideal option. Instead of using mouthwash to disinfect a cut, simply clean the cut with clean tap water. Clean the skin around the cut with mild hand soap and tap water, pat it dry with a clean towel, cover it with a clean dressing, and then give it some time and let the body heal itself.
Alcohol and other chemicals (flavoring agents, coloring agents, preservatives, etc.) in the mouthwash might irritate the wound and prevent your body from going through its normal course in wound healing.