Listerine was first used in the 1860s as an antiseptic during surgery by a doctor named Joseph Lister. Once it was discovered to help drastically reduce the number of deaths after surgery, another man by the name of Dr. Joseph Lawrence was inspired to use it as a mouthwash in the late 1870s to kill germs found in the mouth. Listerine is still a popular product used today mainly for oral health; however, its original use as an antiseptic can still be beneficial for killing many different types of microorganisms.
Benefits
Listerine has a number of benefits for improving oral health. Listerine products have been shown to fight bad breath, reduce plaque by over 50%, and prevent gum disease and cavities. Other Listerine products have also been created to help make teeth whiter. While Listerine has amazing benefits for oral health, it is also beneficial for killing a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi. This includes killing yeast infections found on the mouth and skin.
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Side-Effects
Listerine has few side effects caused by the 27% alcohol content. Alcohol can be irritating to the skin and can cause the skin to dry out when applied topically. Alcohol may also cause already sensitive, raw skin or skin that has been broken to have a burning sensation when applied. Avoid using Listerine on raw or broken skin or if it causes irritation to the skin.
Listerine also has unwanted side effects when it is consumed. Drinking Listerine can cause issues with the digestive tract leading to irritation such as upset stomach and diarrhea. It can also lead to alcohol poisoning if too much is consumed. Only use Listerine as a topical treatment or to rinse out the mouth and spit it out afterwards.
Dosage
Rinse your mouth with 20ml of Listerine twice a day in order to treat yeast infections found in the mouth. For yeast infections found on nails, soak the infected part for at least 30 seconds or up to 5 minutes for maximum benefits. If the yeast infection is found on the skin, soak a small rag in 1/3 cup of Listerine and apply to the infected area for 5 minutes.
How to Take It
Listerine should not be consumed. Instead, Listerine should be used to rinse the mouth out and then spit out. Listerine can also be applying to the skin by soaking the infected area or applying a rag that has been soaked in Listerine.
For maximum benefits, do not wash the treated area for at least 1 hour after being soaked with Listerine. Do not drink or rinse the mouth out with water for 30 minutes to an hour after rinsing with Listerine. This will allow the Listerine to work longer and kill more of the yeast.
Research
A number of studies have looked at the effects of Listerine on C. albicans, the microorganism that causes yeast infections.
In a study conducted by the Tokyo Dental College department of microbiology, Listerine and Cool Mint Listerine were used to examine the effectiveness in killing C. albicans. A 30-second exposure to Listerine significantly decreased the number of living cells of C. albicans. Cool Mint Listerine had the same effect against reducing microorganism that causes yeast infections. This suggests that Listerine is an effective tool for killing the microorganism C. albicans that cause yeast infections in the mouth by rinsing the mouth for 30 seconds.
In another research study posted on the Medical Science Monitor, the use of Listerine to reduce different types of harmful microorganisms was tested. The number of microorganisms drastically reduced after 5 minute exposure to both Listerine Freshmint and Listerine Cleanmint. This is another study that suggests exposure to Listerine for up to 5 minutes can cause a drastic reduction in C. albicans that cause yeast infections.
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In a study conducted by the department of oral medicine in Peking University School of Stomatology, the researchers looked at the use of several mouthwashes in treating C. albicans strains that grow on toenails and lead to toenail fungus. Listerine had significant antifungal activity that reduced the activity of C. albicans that cause yeast infections found on nails.
Overall, Listerine is a beneficial tool for treating yeast infections found in the mouth, skin, and nails. Yeast infections can be reduced by rinsing the mouth out with Listerine, soaking affected areas with Listerine, or placing a rag soaked in Listerine on the affected area.
Thank you ! This article was extremely helpful.