Do you have chronic dry mouth from certain medications?

[Jasana]

3. Poison? Let's look a little closer here.

I would not recommend a product that is dangerous. It's a mouthwash. You're not suppose to chug it down your throat for the same reason you shouldn't chug down a bottle of 151 proof rum. I called the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 and was told they do not even have Biotene listed as a poison. All they recommended was not drinking the mouthwash. (Note: Biotene should not be used by children 12 and under unless directed to by a doctor or dentist and the PCC did tell me to go straight to the ER if I ever came across anybody who drank a whole bottle and felt ill.)

But for the sake of science and safety, I spent nine hours today researching every ingredient listed in Biotene mouthwash. I still recommend it for severe dry mouth in adults. Those who wake up in the morning with the corners of their mouths cracked know what I'm talking about here. I'm disabled and have to take three different medications that can cause dry mouth.

Biotene Ingrediants:

Purified Water – Is water that has had its' minerals (calcium, sodium, iron, copper, chloride, sulfate) removed by deionization, reverse osmosis, carbon filtration, microporous filtration, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet oxidation, or electrodialysis It has many lab uses depending upon what lab experiment is being performed. For example, water that is being used for molecular-biology experiments needs to be DNA or RNA-free. Water for microbiology experiments needs to be completely sterile. Actually drinking purified water may be counterproductive since it removes many minerals the body needs. Tap water is generally recommended. If you are concerned that your regular tap water may have harmful bacteria in it, it is recomeded that you boil it.
http://www.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/water/wattap.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-purified-water.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purified_water


Propglene Glycol - PG is a substance that absorbs water and is used as a thickening agent or food preservative. The FDA has determined it “generally safe for humans.” However, I would not recommenced ingesting this ingredient in large amounts as it may cause damage to the central nervous system. There also seems to be some debate whether long term exposure can cause skin and eye irritations. For instance, the government CDC ATSDR site doesn't indicate this while the Science Lab Chemicals site (which sells the stuff!) says that it does. If you are a dedicated Green, you might want to think twice about using products with this chemical in it.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=1121&tid=240

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927239


Xylitol - Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol found in most plant material, including many fruits and vegetables. It is recommended for dental health because it helps prevent tooth decay.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-996-XYLITOL.aspx?activeIngredientId=996&activeIngredientName=XYLITOL

http://www.rxlist.com/xylitol/supplements.htm


Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolsate – HSH is a mixture of several sugar alcohols used as both a sweeter and an ingredient that can help retain moisture. It is considered safe by numerous health and safety organizations around the world. It is not easily fermented and is used in products that help prevent tooth decay. Since is it absorbed at a slower rate into the body, it is a recommended sweetener for diabetics. I could only find two small studies pertaining to those two particular claims online. One three month study indicated that it did not prevent tooth decay. One study of 6 diabetics indicated that it did indeed release glucose into the body more slowly.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8234920 (Note: there are four health and safety studies attached to this link.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogenated_starch_hydrosylate

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35919

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/13/7/733

Poloxamer 407 – P407 is a surfactant. In other words. it helps oily ingredients break down and can change the rate at which a drug is released into the body. It is often used in cosmetics, toothpaste and mouthwash. An Australian newspaper reported that in high doses it could cause high cholesterol in mice, however, a different study was not able to reproduce the same effect in larger animals such as pigs and rabbits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poloxamer_407

http://melanotan.org/yabbfiles/Attachments/p407.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781606/


Hydroxyethyl cellulose – HC is a thickening agent made from cellulose (stuff you find in the walls of green plants. (“Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth.” Wiki.) You will find HC in cosmetics, cleaning solutions and KY jelly. Because it is highly water soluble it can also be found in stool softeners. It can cause allergic reactions and should not be ingested by pregnant women.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyethylcellulose

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hydroxyethyl-cellulose.htm

http://www.dow.com/dowwolff/en/industrial_solutions/polymers/hydroxyethylcellulose/


Sodium Benzoate Flavor (Peppermint Oil) – Sodium Benzoate is a naturally occurring salt found in some foods like apples, cranberries, cloves. It can be used as a preservative. It should not be mixed with citric acid as a preservative because when combined it makes benzene, a known carcinogen. (Note: I could find no info on SBF Peppermint Oil. My guess (guess!) is that peppermint oil is being used to hide the salty taste.)
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-sodium-benzoate.htm

http://www.naturalwellbeing.com/learning-center/Sodium_Benzoate


Benzoic Acid – This is a chemical that has three methods of manufacturing. “The USP/FCC grade of benzoic acid is usually produced by extraction and crystallization, although distillation has also been used. In the extraction-crystallization process, toluene, water, and methanol have all been used and each is capable of producing a high quality benzoic acid product,” according to the NiH.gov site. It can be used as an anti-fungal or food preservative. Ingestion can be hazardous to your health per NiH, DOT, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. Working around this chemical long term can bring further health hazards. I recommend that dedicated Greens avoid using products with this substance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzoic_acid

http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=243

http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0209.pdf


Disodium Phosphate – DP is a salt associated with phosphoric acid (inorganic mineral.) It is used to speed cooking time, to thicken jello, in intravenous fluids, to correct prenatal deficiencies and as a bowel preparation for colonoscopy . I would not recommend ingesting large doses of DP as it can cause a myriad of health problems, especially for at risk populations. Dedicated Greens may feel better about avoiding this product in food but you're going to have trouble avoiding it in certain medical situations.
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~IsBiW1:1:ther

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disodium_phosphate

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/r?dbs+hsdb:@term+@rn+7558-79-4


Zinc Gluconate – ZG is a salt of gluconic acid (these occur naturally through oxidation of glucose.) ZG is generally recognized as “safe by the FDA” although some people have complained that it causes loss of taste and smell, two symptoms of the common cold for which it is mainly used to treat, usually as a lozenge. There have been numerous double blind studies done that indicate ZG both lessens the symptoms and duration of the common cold.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_gluconate

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12424502

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6367635

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2192839


Lactoferrin – Lactoferrin is a protein found in both human and cow milk and if you find that dangerous then don't ever breastfeed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactoferrin

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-49-LACTOFERRIN.aspx?activeIngredientId=49&activeIngredientName=LACTOFERRIN

Lyozyme – are enzymes that are considered glycoside hydrolases (common enzymes found in nature that assist as an anti-bacterial agent and in breaking down biomass.) It is also found in the human immune system... naturally.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycoside_hydrolases

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-lysozyme.htm#slideshow


Lactoperoxidase - enzyme naturally secreted by mammary and salivary glands and used by the human immune system as a natural antibacterial agent.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-lactoperoxidase.htm#slideshow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactoperoxidase

Potassium Thiocyanate – is a hazardous chemical used in chemotherapeutic drugs, antibiotics and thyroid medications. Dedicated Greens should stay away from this chemical but may be unable to avoid it because of certain medical conditions.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/466285-what-is-potassium-thiocyanate/

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927574

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_thiocyanate

Aloe Vera Gel – gel from Aloe Vera plant which CAN have negative health side effects if ingested or taken in pill form as a “vitamin” The FDA has banned its' use as a dietary supplement. Studies of AVG as a soothing, skin agent are contradictory according to wiki but no mention is made of this in wisegeek.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aloe-vera-gel.htm

Calcium Lactate – is a salt made when combined with milk acid and calcium carbonate (commonly found in rocks, sea shells and pearls.) It's found in foods like rhubarb and broccoli and in diary products. Its' main medical uses are to prevent calcium deficiencies and to act as an antacid. People with a history of kidney stones or with a parathyroid gland disorder should not use it as an antacid. (Note: Excess calcium can be fatal.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/calcium-lactate.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/22077-calcium-lactate/


Glucose Oxidase – is an enzyme that aids in breaking down sugar. It can be used to figure out how much sugar is contained in a serum, it can strengthen the quality of bread dough, it can be used in removing oxygen from food packaging and it can be used as an antibacterial flavoprotein.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-xanthine-oxidase.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucose_oxidase

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/glucose+oxidase

Milk and Egg Derivatives – What can I say here? Do not use if you are allergic to milk or eggs.


And finally – If you do not have dry mouth, here's some advice on how to chose the best mouth wash.
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-choose-the-best-mouth-rinse.htm