Mouthwash

Mouthwash

For many years now, I’ve been a big fan of Listerine. After a day of eating and drinking all kinds of stuff, I find the golden shot a cleansing Gotterdammerung on the tongue (and, almost incidentally, the teeth).

In the dentist’s chair a few weeks ago, I asked him if there was any evidence that Listerine could damage taste buds because, you know, it’s so strong. He seemed surprised by the question and had no idea, but I have to wonder if the constant exposure of the tongue to blistering blasts might not wear down some of the sensitive sensors there. I have come to value my remaining buds, and when I see a young person with a tongue-pierce , I offer him (more usually her) a codger’s sage advice: “You know, you can't grow more taste buds,” to which tongue-tied youth usually responds with something like, “Tho what, dudth?”)

The Wife, in a frenzy of uncontrolled consumerism at Costco (to be discussed in a later post), bought some Crest Pro-Health that claims to be void of “the burn of alcohol” – unfortunately, the taste of mouthwash lasts for literally hours after use. Me no like; me like rapid slosh-and-burn of Listerine, which destroys all in its wake and then flames itself out.

I wonder, though, if long-term use is not causing some kind of damage.



David "Proper Oral Hygiene" Hammond

According to this page, you can in fact grow new taste buds:

Taste buds, which occur primarily in the tongue papillae (circumvallate and fungiform), are very sensitive to radiation. Because of their location in the tongue, they are included in the beam of radiation for most oral cancers. Therefore, patients will develop a partial (hypogeusia) or, most usually, complete (ageusia) loss of taste during treatment. The cells comprising taste buds usually will regenerate within four months after treatment. However, the degree of long-term impairment of taste is quite variable from patient to patient.

I've been using Listerine twice a day for 17 years now, with no appreciable effect on the ol' taste buds. My dentists over the years have had nothing but good to say about Listerine. If you don't already, you should start using the stuff; although you will have to learn to love the burn. (Try using it right before you brush; the minty froth follow-up mitigates the pain.)

I too am a Listerine addict, even more so now that they've invented them in gelatin-like strip form.

When you're working in close quarters with other people, those little strips go a long way towards neutralizing the funk of a cup of coffee or a lunchtime sardine and onion sandwich.

Best,
Michael

Forget the minty carp, its got to be the original flavor in all its medicinal glory. Nothing like saying good-bye to a good-time.

The strips are genius in their low profile pack. Won a Time 2002 best inventions. Mint, cinnamon, and citrus. Mmmm, blechh.

-ramon

Ramon wrote:Forget the minty carp, its got to be the original flavor in all its medicinal glory.

Quite definitely. What I like about the original is that it comes on strong and leaves (relatively) quickly. No lingering flavor.