Effectiveness
Additional rinsing helps in reducing dental plaque and gingivitis in children, in addition to reducing the risk of bleeding from the gingival sulcus. However, the effect of extra rinsing with water is not as beneficial as using Listerine as part of everyday oral hygiene. (The label of the new whitening pre-rinse recommends consumers use one of the other Listerine formulas for fighting plaque).
In a January 6, 2005, decision, Judge Denny Chin of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that an advertising campaign by Pfizer, claiming that the mouthwash Listerine is as effective as flossing in fighting tooth and gum decay, is false and misleading and poses a public health risk.
In 2010 a study was published which noted that performing a brief 30 second rinse with Listerine (Vanilla Mint Flavor) prior to applying topical lidocaine to patients mouths masks the unpleasant flavor of topical lidocaine. It is suspected this may help improve the comfort of a variety of oral procedures performed by dentists and oral surgeons.
Listerine has a 0 zone of inhibition for S. aureus and 1mm zone of inhibition for E. coli when cultured.
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