who says that listerine is good for your gums? i personally never understood this fascination that people have with rinsing. the only thing that controls gingivitis prevents periodontitis and bad breath is the actual act of brushing and flossing one's teeth! everything else is just fluff. there are mouthwashes that can help control the deleterious bacteria in our mouth (mainly chlorhexidine-peridex) however they are "by prescription" and stain our teeth. they are used by many peridontists and other dentists to control bacteria after dental surgery but we recommend their use only for a limited time. in addition if you ask dental pathologists (the specialists in the diseases of the mouth) many will tell you that many mouthwashes are laden with alcohol which actually damages our gums. it is compounded by the fact that people rinse their mouth with an alcohol-based mouthwash and then go and smoke a cigarette. they kill that top protective layer of cells with the alcohol and introduce the carcinogens from the cigarettes right into the sub-layer of the gums causing more damage. review your brushing technique and timing. speak to your hygienist/dentist/periodontist about proper brushing technique and use the mouth rinse when you need fresh breath for a few minutes (this is how long the effects of mouthwash last). as to the ada approval. any reputable company can pay the fee required to get the ada seal. it is a great marketing device but the real agency of approval is the fda (food and drug administration). if a product is approved to be sold by a pharmacy it is likely to have fda approval. that should be ok. my recommendation: don't waste your hard-earned money on mouthwashes. spend your money on professional cleanings and go to a dentist/hygienist who cares enough to give you feedback on your home care and educate you in proper hygiene. you will get much more "bang for your buck. "
i bought listerine zero and it has no ada symbol. will it help my gums like normal listerine does?