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There are an estimated 121 million mouthwash users in the United States—the majority of which use mouthwash daily. Market research predicts that, with the introduction of whitening and other niche mouthwashes, the use of mouthwash will continue to grow.

Most mouthwashes are manufactured with chemical additives, dyes, sweeteners, and antimicrobial agents. After a 30-second not-so-green gargle, the chemicals in mouthwash are washed down the drain, where they can potentially enter water supplies and natural waterways. What's worse, all that eco-damage may be for naught: the American Dental Association (ADA) purports that mouthrinses are merely cosmetic bad breath masks; they provide temporary relief from offensive breath, but are not effective in killing the bacteria responsible for the problem.

The major chemical culprits in mouthwash

Conventional mouthwashes commonly contain the following eco- and health-unfriendly ingredients: (To avoid them, read your labels carefully or make homemade mouthwash instead—you'll also cut down on packaging waste that way.)

• Alcohol: Traditional alcohol-based mouthwashes are often highly acidic. High acidity has been linked to increased levels of enamel loss, which can lead to increased sensitivity in teeth. Conventional mouthwash brands can be made of up to 75 percent alcohol, which can also cause burning and irritation for the user.
• Coal-tar colorants and synthetic dyes: Coal tar is a byproduct of the distillation of bituminous coal and is harmful to the environment, is a known carcinogen in animals, and can cause skin rashes and hives. In an ingredient list, if the color's name is preceded by FD&C, it's certified for use in food, drugs, and cosmetics. Common colorants found in mouthwashes include FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Green 3, which are carcinogenic. FD&C Yellow 5 and FD&C Yellow 6 contain impurities that have been proven to cause cancer when applied to skin.
• Formaldehyde: A flammable reactive gas belonging to the VOC family of chemicals. Ingestion of the chemical can cause severe physical reactions, including coma, internal bleeding, and death. The US Department of Health and Human Services considers it a probable human carcinogen.
• Methyl salicylate: A synthetic compound used to produce the flavor present in “oil of wintergreen", which, despite ADA approval, has been deemed harmful in animal testing.
• Parabens: Preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria, parabens are found in about 75 to 90 percent of cosmetic and personal care products.[1] After washing down the drain, these chemicals are discharged through wastewater systems and end up in waterways, where they appear to have estrogenic effects on fish. In humans, parabens can affect the endocrine system, which produces hormones. Acting like estrogen in the body, they increase the risk of breast cancer, with recent studies finding parabens in breast tumors. Parabens have been found in breast milk, blood, and body tissues, and can enter a developing fetus.
• Sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS): This chemical, which is used as a foaming and cleansing agent, is a suspected carcinogen.
• Synthetic sweeteners and flavoring: Chemically concocted, many flavor additives are petroleum derived, and the health effects of which are unknown. Methyl salicylate, a synthetic compound used to create the wintergreen flavor, for example, has been shown to cause health problems in animal testing.
• Thymol: While this can be a naturally occurring chemical derived from the thyme plant, thymol can also be made synthetically. Clinical animal studies have linked the synthetic variety, used for its antiseptic properties, to a variety of health problems, including skin irritation and endocrine disruption.
• Triclosan: An antibacterial agent that has been shown to act as an endocrine disruptor in humans and is an ecological pollutant, affecting animals living in waterways where triclosan is deposited after disposal down the drain. Triclosan has been found in 55 percent of streams examined in 2002 at levels high enough to disrupt the natural life cycle of frogs.[2]

External links

• National Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database