If you’re dealing with tooth pain or a suspected dental infection and spot a bottle of Listerine on your bathroom counter, you might be tempted to use it as a quick home remedy. But will it actually help?
Below, we break down what Listerine can do, and what it absolutely cannot do, when it comes to toothaches, infections, and gum problems.
Overview
- Benefits of Listerine
- Can Listerine kill a tooth infection?
- Can Listerine kill a tooth nerve?
- Will mouthwash eliminate a gum infection?
- Situations where Listerine won’t help
- Final verdict
- Key takeaway
Benefits of Listerine as a Mouthwash
Listerine is an excellent antiseptic rinse and performs exactly as advertised.
What Listerine is proven to do:
- Kills 99.9% of oral germs
- Helps reduce plaque
- Freshens breath
- Supports gum health
Rinsing for just 30 seconds twice daily is enough to achieve these benefits, and research shows its antimicrobial ingredients can eliminate microorganisms within 10–30 seconds.
Key ingredients in Listerine:
- Essential oils: Thymol, Eucalyptol, Menthol, Methyl Salicylate
- Water: Base component
- Alcohol: Helps dissolve essential oils
- Sorbitol & Sucralose: Provide sweetness
- Sodium Benzoate & Benzoic Acid: Adjust pH and inhibit microbes
- Sodium Saccharin: Sweetener
- Poloxamer 407: Helps emulsify oils and remove debris
Even with all these powerful antiseptic components, Listerine has limits, and those limits become clear when dealing with tooth infections.
Can Listerine Kill a Tooth Infection?
Simply put: No, Listerine cannot cure a tooth infection.
While it cleans the surface of your teeth extremely well, a true tooth infection typically occurs inside the tooth or deep in the surrounding bone—areas a rinse cannot physically reach.
Why Listerine doesn’t work for tooth infections:
- Tooth infections form within the pulp or at the root tip.
- These infections often extend into the jawbone.
- Mouthwash only contacts the outer enamel, not the internal tissues.
On the X-ray below (as described in the original post), the infection appears as a dark circle at the root tip—far beyond the reach of a rinse.
Since it cannot access the infected area, Listerine won’t relieve pain or resolve the underlying issue.
Can Listerine Kill a Tooth Nerve?
No. Listerine cannot kill or numb the nerve of a tooth.
Why not?
- The nerve sits inside the tooth, protected by enamel and dentin.
- A rinse can’t penetrate these layers.
- “Opening” the tooth is the only way to access the nerve—and that requires a dental procedure such as a root canal.
Only a dentist can physically reach the nerve. Listerine will not stop nerve pain, kill the nerve, or resolve nerve inflammation.
Will a Mouthwash Kill a Gum Infection?
Sometimes.
If the infection is coming from the gums, Listerine may be helpful.
Gum infections caused by:
- Germs
- Plaque buildup
Listerine helps reduce both bacteria and plaque, making it useful for mild gum inflammation or gingivitis.
However:
When Listerine may NOT help:
- If soft plaque has hardened into calculus (tartar)
- Calculus cannot be removed by mouthwash
- Only a dentist or hygienist can remove it by scaling
- Severe gum disease or abscesses require professional treatment
For mild gum swelling, Listerine can reduce symptoms and prevent worsening. But it is not a full cure.
Other Situations Where Mouthwash Won’t Help
Listerine is also ineffective when infections escalate into large abscesses or significant facial swelling.
If your face is swollen enough that you look “puffy” or unrecognizable, that is a true dental emergency.
Large abscesses must be:
- Drained by a dentist or oral surgeon
- Sometimes treated in the ER
No over-the-counter mouthwash can resolve a severe infection.
Verdict: Does Mouthwash Help With Tooth Pain?
Generally, no.
Listerine is an antiseptic, not an antibacterial mouthwash.
Antiseptic vs. Antibacterial Mouthwash
Antiseptic mouthwash (like Listerine):
- Over the counter
- Controls plaque and freshens breath
- Helps prevent infections
- Does NOT treat active tooth infections
Antibacterial mouthwash:
- Prescription only
- Designed to reduce active bacterial loads
- Sometimes used after oral surgery or gum infections
Even though Listerine kills bacteria, it can’t reach the nerve or infection site inside a tooth—so it cannot relieve a toothache.
A dentist is the only one who can provide true pain relief for a tooth infection or nerve pain.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
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