Healthy, Beautiful Smiles for Life

January 3, 2007 6:18 AM

Cetylpyridinium chloride is the active ingredient in Crest Pro Health mouthwash. Proctor and Gamble product research says the rinse is safe and that their single blind study showed, "Side effects were minimal, with no between-group differences in hygienist-rated calculus or stain accumulation..." However, many have gathered at the Amazon page for the product to complain that it stains teeth brown. The only mention of this in the media that I can find is an entertaining op-ed rant from earlier this year. One anectdote from a dental professional claims it takes an hour of cleaning to get the stains off. Did Crest rush its product to market, missing a critical side effect? Or was it meant to boost sales of another product line?
posted by The Straightener (45 comments total)

Color me brownmouthed. Suck it, Crest.
posted by The Straightener at 6:18 AM on January 3, 2007

If my teeth are already yellowed/brown, will it even out any blotchiness and give me an even tarnishing?
posted by pmbuko at 6:30 AM on January 3, 2007

Sweet, I'll try that. I'll make a paste out of it and spread it on some 80 grit sandpaper.
posted by The Straightener at 6:45 AM on January 3, 2007

I don't get it. What does this do that Listerine won't? Do people have some super bacteria in their mouth that a 27% alcohol solution won't kill?

Try 91% isopropyl alcohol. That should kill all those pesky germs.
posted by Pastabagel at 6:48 AM on January 3, 2007

I don't get it. What does this do that Listerine won't?

Crest Pro Health doesn't sting the hell out of your mouth -- that was the big selling point when it first came out. In reality, it stings a little. But it still hasn't turned my teeth brown after a year of using it.
posted by puritycontrol at 7:06 AM on January 3, 2007

The evolution of the protection racket. I don't know about you, but I would pay big money for a product that would get those logos off the outside of my clothes.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 7:16 AM on January 3, 2007

Listerine has been proven by over 100 years of use. Nevertheless, these charges against Crest Pro Health seem a bit premature.
posted by caddis at 7:17 AM on January 3, 2007

[flagged for abuse of tags]
posted by caddis at 7:18 AM on January 3, 2007

Now I'm reminded another reason why I don't read news media anymore... they're more likely to carry thinly veiled ads for industry rather than good consumer advocacy stories. Viva la Internet.
posted by rolypolyman at 7:20 AM on January 3, 2007

Listerine/Life is pain.... Anyone who says differently is selling something.
posted by pmbuko at 7:20 AM on January 3, 2007

Reviewer: I used the Wintergreen flavor for three months - apparently it's not supposed to stain as much.

(insert appropriate Lewis Black flustering) What the fuck?
posted by rolypolyman at 7:25 AM on January 3, 2007

I don't get it. What does this do that Listerine won't?

Crest Pro Health doesn't sting the hell out of your mouth --
posted by puritycontrol at 10:06 AM EST on January 3

Only the original listerine stings. The green listerine and the blue one don't sting, and they have the same amount of alcohol.

And I kind of like that it stings. That's how you know it means business.
posted by Pastabagel at 7:31 AM on January 3, 2007

I just crunch Wint-O-Green LifeSavers and dazzle the hotties with sparks.
posted by hermitosis at 7:36 AM on January 3, 2007

From the wikipedia article on Listerine:

The active ingredients are menthol, thymol, methyl salicylate, and eucalyptol. Ethanol or grain alcohol is present in concentrations between 21 and 26% w/v. At the concentrations in Listerine, ethanol per se does not have antimicrobial activity but rather serves to dissolve the active ingredients and to facilitate the penetration of the active ingredients into dental plaque.

So the alcohol doesn't really do anything to kill the germs. You learn something new every day.
posted by Pastabagel at 7:36 AM on January 3, 2007 [3 favorites]

I don't get it. What does this do that Listerine won't?

Erm, stain your teeth brown, I guess.

Also, I kind of like the "sting" It lets you know it's working.
posted by delmoi at 7:38 AM on January 3, 2007

FWIW, it seems as though there indeed may be a problem with the rinse. Check out this thread in a student doctor discussion forum.
posted by Flakypastry at 7:40 AM on January 3, 2007

Hmmm, once again wikipedia is on the ball
posted by delmoi at 7:41 AM on January 3, 2007

Last year, I was prescribed a mouthwash-type solution called chlorhexidine. An antimicrobial, it fights gingivitis. In a matter of weeks, it had done its job and I was in the clear. However, I was warned when prescribed that one of the major side effects of this super-cleaning substance was a staining of the teeth. And it did. It was reversible and better than the alternative from not using the chlorhexidine, but still ... a bit of a pain.

So I'm wondering if this Crest product has any chlorhexidine in it. I know that some of the G.U.M. products have a small amount.
posted by grabbingsand at 7:47 AM on January 3, 2007

What if you use Bactine?
posted by Pastabagel at 7:49 AM on January 3, 2007

From the wikipedia article cited by delmoi: It has also been used as an ingredient in certain pesticides.

Ouch!
posted by caddis at 7:52 AM on January 3, 2007

It's not just in pesticides, it's also used for sterilizing chicken carcasses; it's marketed under the name Cecure.
posted by The Straightener at 8:00 AM on January 3, 2007

Yeah, the minty Listerine flavors don't seem to sting as much as the original, but the Crest Pro-Health does much less so than any of the Listerine varieties. My wife can barely tolerate any of the Listerines and even thinks the Crest stings a bit, but she can at least use it. We've been using it for a while and haven't noticed any brown stains, but given this news, I should probably switch back to ol' Listerine.
posted by zsazsa at 8:05 AM on January 3, 2007

[flagged for abuse of tags]

I took out the scumtoofs tag but the hobomouth tag refers to the op-ed piece.
posted by The Straightener at 8:11 AM on January 3, 2007

fair enough
posted by caddis at 8:29 AM on January 3, 2007

I gotta tell ya...being in the profession, it's been a funny read. I'm not endorsing any of the above products...the one most often used in Louisiana is Dr. Tichenors and most that use it here swish and swallow (sic). I'm not as familiar w/ the Crest line as other products but daily brushing and flossing are the best...mouthwash is an adjunct...not a replacement. Honestly, you should also add these or these. And go see your dentists at least once a year...PREVENTION is the key here...(thanks cold chef for sending my way)
posted by lsusd2003 at 9:17 AM on January 3, 2007

Hmm ... has anyone used hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse?
posted by jaimev at 9:49 AM on January 3, 2007

According to the student doctor thread, it's the blue dye that stains the teeth.
posted by MythMaker at 10:00 AM on January 3, 2007

Jaimev:

Yup. Effective but amazingly unpleasant in an exciting variety of ways... YMMV.
posted by Samizdata at 10:00 AM on January 3, 2007

From the wikipedia article cited by delmoi: It has also been used as an ingredient in certain pesticides.

Ouch!

That and another chemical you might be familiar with - Oxidane!

The FDA ought to outlaw that stuff.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 10:05 AM on January 3, 2007

The Straightener, Thanks for the heads up.
posted by nickyskye at 10:10 AM on January 3, 2007

Kid Charlemagne, did you know that well over 90% of children in the US test positive for oxidane in thier blood? I understand the numbers are even higher in developing countries.
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:34 AM on January 3, 2007

Enough with this sue this , sue that hysteria ! This is ridicolous and useless ! Just pick a manger and burn his car, the way our ancestors did !

And no..remove the manger BEFORE burning the car.
posted by elpapacito at 10:35 AM on January 3, 2007

Fun post, Jeff. Pay no mind to the haters.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:49 AM on January 3, 2007

ha. tried prohealth for the 1st time this morning on the recommendation of my dental hygenist - she said alcohol had a slight cancer risk. turned my tongue blue and still have a bitter taste in my mouth 3 hours later. thanks p & g.
posted by aquanaut at 11:01 AM on January 3, 2007

Try 91% isopropyl alcohol. That should kill all those pesky germs.

A glass of cask strength single malt works well too.
posted by three blind mice at 12:38 PM on January 3, 2007

Turns your teeth brown? Sounds like sabotage by Crest’s arch enemies the Cavity Creeps.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:46 PM on January 3, 2007

91% isopropyl alcohol....

About twice as toxic as ethanol. Maybe not such a good idea in case you swallow it.
posted by dibblda at 1:49 PM on January 3, 2007

What does this do that Listerine won't?

What does this do that a decent single malt won't? Your breath may not smell as good, but you'll feel better about it.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:31 PM on January 3, 2007

D'oh, three blind mice beat me to it.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:32 PM on January 3, 2007

I really enjoyed the op-ed link:

So what changed in my routine? What could be causing the trouble?

Could it be the six apples a day? The cold cans of collards, field peas and black beans I eat in the middle of the night, in my boxer shorts, alone, in the dark? (Savor that image. SAVOR IT.)

The V-8 juice? The dill pickle habit? The 64-ounce chocolate pudding "Big Gulps?"

64 oz chocolate pudding big gulp! Heeeee
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:49 PM on January 3, 2007

Secret Life of Gravy writes "64 oz chocolate pudding big gulp!"

WHY HAVE YOU KEPT THE EXISTENCE OF THIS SECRET FROM ME?

FATMOUSEDNAB MUST FEED.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:29 PM on January 3, 2007

Dude, it's no secret. You just dump a box of instant pudding into a big ass cup, add milk, agitate until frothy, wait a few minutes and enjoy.

Me? I've got a fire extinguisher I've cleaned out. I put the pudding in there and... well, use your imagination.
posted by loquacious at 8:34 PM on January 3, 2007

Chocolate bukkake?
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 8:52 PM on January 3, 2007

Only the original Listerine is worth buying and using. All other mouth washes are poor cousins, not worth noticing. Since I started using Listerine when I brush, my needs for dental attention have vastly improved.
posted by Goofyy at 5:01 AM on January 4, 2007

Chocolate bukkake was my gay porn name.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:19 PM on January 5, 2007