Evolution of LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthrinse - Tried and True Product November 2009
Evolution of LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthrinse
For over 100 years, LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse has been the product patients turn to when they want to improve and maintain good oral health.
Few household products can boast the history, safety, and effectiveness of Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc’s LISTERINE-brand mouthrinses. LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse has a 125- year history and is the most extensively studied nonprescription mouthrinse on the market. The American Dental Association (ADA) advises use of an ADA-accepted antimicrobial mouthrinse in addition to brushing and flossing to help prevent and reduce plaque and gingivitis.1 LISTERINE Antiseptic is the only nationally branded nonprescription antimicrobial mouthrinse to carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance, and it is the number-one dentist-recommended brand of nonprescription antimicrobial mouthrinse.
Early Years
LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse was developed in 1879 by Dr. Joseph Lawrence and pharmacist Jordan Wheat Lambert as a surgical disinfectant. They discovered that it was an excellent oral germkiller, making it the first antiseptic mouthwash.
1960s-1980s
In the 1960s, plaque’s role in causing periodontal disease was beginning to become recognized, and antiseptic mouthrinses were increasingly seen as products that could aid in the control of plaque and gingivitis.2,3 In 1985, the ADA developed guidelines for the evaluation of antiplaque and antigingivitis chemotherapeutic agents. A turning point was achieved 2 years later when the ADA’s Council on Dental Therapeutics (now known as the Council on Scientific Affairs) accepted LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse as an aid in controlling plaque and gingivitis.
A hundred years after LISTERINE Antiseptic was created, the importance of preventing plaque was well established. However, research in the 1980s suggested that over 50% of US adults could be expected to develop gingivitis in their lifetime, which if left untreated may lead to severe gum disease and tooth loss.4 Furthermore, studies showed that most patients are not able to adequately control plaque by brushing and flossing because of a combination of poor dexterity, insufficient time spent on oral hygiene, and the presence of implants, crowns, and braces.5
1990s-Present
By the turn of the new century, LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse had been shown in clinical trials to reduce supragingival plaque (up to 70%),6 the development of gingivitis (up to 36%),7 and interproximal bacteria (by 44%).8 A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Dental Association showed that adding LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthwash to daily brushing and flossing gives patients significant whole-mouth results with reductions in plaque and gingivitis versus brushing and flossing alone.9
In 2006, LISTERINE Antiseptic became a product of Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., when the company acquired Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.
Recent research suggests that prevention of periodontal disease is a critical component of overall good health. Although a cause-and-effect relationship has not been established, studies suggest a possible association between advanced gum disease and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pneumonia, and low pre-term birth rate.
Ingredients and Method of Action
LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, and it kills bacteria associated with plaque and gingivitis by disrupting the bacterial cell wall. It kills both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.10
LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinses contain alcohol (ranging from 21.6% in flavored versions to 26.9% in the Original). The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs has awarded the ADA Seal of Acceptance to LISTERINE Antiseptic* after a thorough review of data on safety and efficacy.11 The alcohol used in LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse is pharmaceutical-grade alcohol, and is necessary to solubilize the active essential oils ingredients (eucalyptol, thymol, methyl salicylate, menthol) that kill bacteria that cause plaque and gingivitis.
The alcohol in LISTERINE Antiseptic (ethanol) serves as the optimal carrier to help the 4 essential oils quickly penetrate the plaque. According to the manufacturer, no other mouthwash for everyday use has been proven more effective against plaque biofilm than LISTERINE Antiseptic.
Indications
Used as an adjunct to daily oral hygiene and regular professional care, LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse is indicated to help prevent or reduce plaque and gingivitis. It is used for both preventive and maintenance periodontal care in consumers age 12 and up.
Additional Flavors
LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthwash is available in Original flavor as well as a variety of less intense flavors to accommodate any taste and enhance patient compliance:
• COOL MINT LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthwash
• FRESHBURST LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthwash
• Vanilla Mint LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthwash
• Citrus Advanced LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthwash with Tartar Protection
• ARCTIC MINT Advanced LISTERINE Antiseptic Mouthwash with Tartar Protection
References
1. Gavin J. ADA offers new advice on mouthrinses. ADA News. May 18, 2007.
2. Fine DH. Mouthrinses as adjuncts for plaque and gingivitis management. A status report for the American Journal of Dentistry. Am J Dent. 1988;1:259-263.
3. Gordon JM, Lamster IB, Seiger MC. Efficacy of Listerine antiseptic in inhibiting the development of plaque and gingivitis. Clin Periodontol. 1985;12:697-704.
4. Oliver RC, Brown LJ, Löe H. Periodontal diseases in the United States population. J Periodontol. 1998;69:269-278.
5. Bader HI. Floss or die: implications for dental professionals. Dent Today. 1998;17:76-82.
6. Sharma NC, Unsook A, Qaqish JG, et al. Comparative efficacy of essential oil and 0.05% CPC mouthrinses. World Congress on Preventive Dentistry. Phuket, Thailand; September 7-10, 2009.
7. Overholser CD, Meiller TF, DePaola LG, et al. Comparative effects of 2 chemotherapeutic mouthrinses on the development of supragingival dental plaque and gingivitis. J Clin Periodontol. 1990;17:575-579.
8. Charles CH, Pan PC, Sturdivant L, et al. In vivo antimicrobial activity of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse on interproximal plaque bacteria. J Clin Dent. 2000;11:94-97.
9. Sharma N, Charles CH, Lynch MC, et al. Adjunctive benefit of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly: a six month study. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004;135:496-504.
10. Ross NM, Charles CH, Dills SS. Long-term effects of Listerine Antiseptic on dental plaque and gingivitis. J Clin Dent. 1989;1:92-95.
11. Council on Dental Therapeutics. Council on Dental Therapeutics accepts Listerine. J Am Dent Assoc. 1988;117:515-516.
*LISTERINE Antiseptic products that carry the ADA Seal are Original, COOL MINT, FRESH BURST, and Vanilla Mint.
