Can Listerine cause cavities?

Question

My daughter had3 cavities when she began the invisilign process. She's only going on her 4th tray so I'm well aware that hygiene is also something that needs to be mentioned here. She wears them faithfully but when not she puts them in Listerine to get rid of taste. She went from 3 old cavities to 9 in about 5 months. She's not angel. She likes soda, sweets...all of it but she brushes and flosses. The only difference is the mouthwash sitting on her teeth.

Brad Jennings, DDS, MDS · Answer

Listerine is not causing the cavities.  Only sugar + bacteria can cause them.  She may be drinking sodas with her aligners in essentially making them a sugar tray much like placing bleach in a bleach tray.  I would head in that direction.  I'd soak the aligners in something other than Listerine too.  That can cause discoloration.  You typically only need to rinse them with water or water and toothbrush at most, never toothpaste because it scratches the aligners.  At most, you can use denture cleaning tablets.

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Can Listerine cause cavities?

Answers (1)

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