The Role of Alcohol in Mouthwashes and Rinses 

ALCOHOL: HOW AN INACTIVE INGREDIENT DELIVERS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS 

Even though alcohol is an inactive ingredient, it plays 2 very important roles that contribute to the effectiveness of LISTERINE® Antiseptic mouthwashes: 

• Alcohol acts as a solvent to help solubilize the ingredients  

• Alcohol also acts as a vehicle for delivering the active ingredients. Alcohol enables the 4 ESSENTIAL Oils to penetrate the plaque biofilm or bacterial communities  

• The active ingredients, the 4 ESSENTIAL Oils, are integral to reducing plaque and gingivitis

For concerns about the safety and tolerability of LISTERINE® Brand rinses, click here.

To go deeper into the science behind our products, you can explore our clinical data by clicking here.