Uh oh, you’ve just taken a big gulp of mouthwash instead of spitting it down the sink. What now?
Don’t panic - accidentally swallowing mouthwash after use is a fairly common occurrence. Rest assured, a little bit likely won’t do you any harm, but it’s not a good habit!
Mouthwash is a key step of any oral care routine. It helps to freshen your breath, kill harmful bacteria, and boost the overall health of your teeth and gums. That’s why it’s important to feel confident in the mouthwash you use.
Today, we’ll go through:
- What ingredients are used in mouthwash
- What happens if you accidentally swallow some
- Some ways you can prevent accidental swallowing in the future
Let’s dive in!
What's in Mouthwash That Matters?
Firstly, let’s talk basics: what could be in mouthwash that makes it so hard to swallow?
Spoiler: there’s a lot.
Traditional mouthwash is typically made up of antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, essential oils, fluoride, and a whole lot of chemicals with long names.
Some mouthwashes also contain amounts of alcohol (namely ethanol), which is used to help kill germs and bacteria in your mouth.
Mouthwashes can have an alcohol percentage of between 5% and 27%, which is why you might notice a slight tingling sensation when in use.
While this level of alcohol is unlikely to intoxicate you, it is potentially more harmful for children or people suffering from alcohol use disorder.
The main concern when it comes to mouthwash is the presence of fluoride. Traditionally, fluoride has been a key ingredient in a lot of oral care products, mainly toothpaste.
Most mouthwashes contain varying levels of fluoride. While low levels are safe, excessive consumption can be harmful.
However, nowadays, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-Ha) is emerging as an alternative. A lot of studies have shown that n-Ha is a great non-toxic substitute for fluoride. It makes up 97% of your tooth enamel and 70% of your dentin.
The best part about n-Ha is that it has remineralizing properties and is good at restoring your teeth and enamel. Unlike fluoride, n-Ha is safe to swallow, making it an excellent ingredient to use in oral care products. So if your mouthwash contains n-Ha, you don't need to worry.
However, there are also a few other ingredients to be wary of. Mouthwash is also made up of a range of other chemicals that aren’t a good idea to swallow, including essential oils, peroxide, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and chlorhexidine.
While you shouldn’t worry about them in small quantities, these ingredients do have the potential to cause mild stomach upset.
What Happens If I Swallow a Little?
A few things can happen after you’ve swallowed mouthwash. If you’ve only ingested a small amount, you’ll experience some typical side effects such as an upset stomach, which might lead to diarrhea. You might also feel queasy or nauseated.
These symptoms usually pass quickly, however, it’s important to monitor your symptoms to ensure a speedy recovery.
An upset stomach isn’t a sign you should be worried, however annoying it may be. You also shouldn’t try to vomit the mouthwash back up, as this might worsen your other symptoms.
If your mouthwash contains a high percentage of alcohol, you might also experience some symptoms of intoxication. This might impact your level of alertness, as well as increase feelings of nausea or queasiness.
More serious side effects if consuming mouthwash include increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, changes in alertness, dizziness, or convulsions. These indicate you’re having a severe reaction to consuming mouthwash.
Fortunately, these signs typically only appear if you consume large quantities of mouthwash. Smaller amounts shouldn’t do you much harm, but you should always keep track of what symptoms you experience in case you need to speak to your doctor.
When to Worry
Quantity Matters
It’s important to remember that small accidental sips of mouthwash for adults aren’t generally a cause for concern.
If you accidentally ingested a tiny amount, you likely don’t have anything to worry about. However, the quantity of what you consume matters the most.
For example, a small gulp to an adult is a large one to a child. As children have smaller bodies, a dose that would be unconcerned for an adult puts them more at risk. It’s easier for children to overdose on mouthwash, so understanding the amount your child has had is important to determine your next steps.
Vulnerable Groups
You should also be wary of the risk towards other vulnerable groups. If you have underlying health conditions, you might be more at risk of severe side effects after consuming mouthwash.
If your mouthwash has a high alcohol content, this can also be incredibly damaging for people suffering from alcohol use disorder.
Remember to monitor your symptoms. If the severity increases or you develop new, concerning symptoms such as dizziness, convulsions, drowsiness, or trouble breathing, you should speak to your doctor or a medical professional immediately.
If you’re worried about the amount you’ve consumed, there are a few things you can do to ease your worries.
- Calling up a doctor or other healthcare worker can be a good way to relax your concerns and get proper guidance. Even if you experience only mild stomach discomfort, it might be important to talk it out with a professional who can give you some advice on what to do next.
- Another thing you can do is read the label on the mouthwash bottle to identify its ingredients. Check what percentage of alcohol the mouthwash contains, and the concentration of fluoride or other harmful chemicals. This can be a good way to determine whether you’ll need medical attention.
- You might also like to call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) directly. They can advise you on what to do next, and how to prevent it from happening again.
- If you experience any serious symptoms, it’s important to seek emergency medical care right away. Call an ambulance or have someone drive you to a hospital to get checked out.
Preventing Accidental Swallowing
Ultimately, it’s important to take care to prevent yourself from accidentally swallowing mouthwash. Whether that’s for yourself or your child, there are a few different things you can do to stop it from happening again.
Use a Non-toxic Mouthwash
One simple solution is to switch to a non-toxic mouthwash. Read the label of your current mouthwash and cross-check with other brands to ensure you buy one that works best for you.
You might also like to look for an alcohol-free mouthwash. This is a good way to prevent alcohol from damaging either you or your child. There are plenty of alcohol-free mouthwashes available on the market.
Check out our non-toxic mouthwash, which comes in the form of mouthwash tablets. These tablets are a relatively new form of mouthwash, but they can be just as effective as traditional liquid mouthwash.
Our mouthwash tablets are fluoride-free and easy to use. You can use water or saliva to activate them, and they’re easy to store away from children. The tablets also contain probiotics and essential oils, which help to balance oral bacteria and keep your mouth feeling fresh.
Supervise Children Using Mouthwash
It’s also important to always supervise children when they use mouthwash. Demonstrating first might be a good way to help them remember to spit when they’re done.
You should also ensure that your child can easily reach the sink. This means they won’t have any trouble with spitting once they’ve finished using it.
However, it might be a good idea to consider if your child needs mouthwash in the first place. The ADA recommends that children under the age of 6 shouldn’t be using mouthwash. Some children might also not enjoy the taste of the rinse, so maybe it’s time to rethink your child’s oral care routine around what works best for them.
Depending on your child's age, you might want to focus more on brushing and flossing and skip the mouthwash entirely if they are younger than 6 or are unable to spit.
Avoid Distractions
Remember to focus when using mouthwash. Stop looking at your phone! Keeping alert and not distracted might sound basic, but it’s an easy way to stop yourself from accidentally swallowing an unwanted amount of mouthwash.
Always follow the instructions on the label. Generally, you’ll need to swish the mouthwash in your mouth for around 30 seconds to ensure you reach every crevice. Make sure you spit it out into a cup or sink when you’re done.
Keep Your Mouthwash Safely Stored
You should also always keep your mouthwash safely secured away from children when you’re not using it. Don’t leave it out on a bathroom counter, or someone they can easily reach. Either a high shelf or a locked cabinet will work.
It might also be a good idea to buy mouthwash that comes with childproof caps. This makes it harder for children to break in and keeps them safe if you forget to put it away after use.
“Dental expert Dr. Anjum Chaudhary, BDS, MDS, advises against panicking or inducing vomiting if you accidentally swallow mouthwash. The amount typically used for rinsing is unlikely to cause harm.
If you're concerned, rinse your mouth with water or drink some milk to dilute the mouthwash's ingredients. Some people may experience mild throat discomfort, nausea, or diarrhea depending on the mouthwash's contents and effectiveness, but these symptoms should resolve quickly. If you feel unwell, note down the brand and quantity of mouthwash consumed and seek medical attention.”
Conclusion
Remember that accidentally swallowing a small amount of mouthwash is not usually a serious issue. However, it is important to remain vigilant, especially when children are around.
If you need support or guidance, you should reach out to poison control or a medical professional. They will be able to help ease your worries and give you some advice on what to do next.
Consider trying Boka's range of mouthwash tablets. Our mouthwash tablets are designed to be easy to use and convenient. They are activated by your saliva to create a mouthful of minty-fresh mouthwash and are fluoride-free.