Colgate Peroxyl Mouthwash Review

Colgate are one of the big brands within the dentistry and oral healthcare market and a name you have likely heard of.

From toothpastes to brushes, Colgate Peroxyl Mouthwash is from the company’s professional range of products and is not likely to be a mouthwash you see on the shop shelves all too often.

This is a medicated mouthwash that is designed to relieve minor mouth and gum irritations.

Your dentist or pharmacist may have recommended this or perhaps you are looking for something to help you relieve the pain in your gums.  In this full Colgate Peroxyl Mouthwash review we will give you all the information you wish to know, but before we get to the full written review, a few bits of key information are provided first.

For a more detailed comparison of choices and to learn more about mouthwash, see our best mouthwash post.

Does it actually work?

Yes, I found that the irritation subsided after use.

How much does it cost?

Whilst the exact price will vary depending upon where you purchase the bottle of Colgate Peroxyl from, the good news is it is not all that expensive and the prices are fairly stable.

The recommended retail price (RRP) is £4.79 here in the UK and typically the prices I found, primarily online ranged from £4.50 though to £4.70 so only 20p difference between the cheaper and more expensive outlets.

Coming in one size only the bottle contains 300ml of the hydrogen peroxide based mouthwash.

Where can I buy it?

Peroxyl is not a typical off the shelf mouthwash and is one you are likely to be recommended to by your dentist or healthcare professional.  You may find it on some shop shelves like Boots and Superdrug in the UK but you may find it easier to source online or at the pharmacy.

Would I recommend it?

Yes, based on my usage I have no reason not to recommend it as a product for helping to deal with irritated mouth and gums.

Full Review

Your mouth is a gateway for germs and bacteria.  It is therefore important to assist your body’s natural defences by keeping your teeth and gums clean and in a good state of health so that you feel better.

If you do not take care of your teeth and gums, or perhaps if you feel ill or a little worse off, it is amazing what a quick freshen up can do for you.

We have lapses in our oral regime, or for whatever reason we may get a mild irritation to the mouth and gums, perhaps some swelling and abrasion or bacteria build up in the mouth.

Colgate Peroxyl is a specially medicated mouthwash that relieves minor mouth and gum irritations using a mix of ingredients, but primarily benefiting from the use of hydrogen peroxide to alleviate the soreness and irritation in the mouth

This is not a daily mouthwash and one to be used normally.  but you may be advised by a dentist to use this mouthwash, typically for a period of no more than 7 days.

So, what is it really like to use?

How I tested the mouthwash

Due to the type of mouthwash this is and the recommended usage time, I only tested this for a period of 7 days and this is not an extended trial of Colgate Peroxyl.

Official guidance is to use up to 3 times a day for no longer than 7 days and this is how I used it.

• In the morning, soon after (but not immediately after) having cleaned my teeth
• At lunchtime having eaten
• At night, soon after (but not immediately after) having cleaned my teeth

Each time I used the recommended 10ml dosage.

When you choose to use it will be up to you unless your dentist advises a specific time or regularity for your particular circumstances. Popular advice is to use after eating.

Alongside this my normal tooth brushing pattern remained, cleaning my teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with an Oral-B electric toothbrush, the Pro 6000 set to daily clean mode, with a CrossAction brush head.

I mention in the bullet points above about not rinsing immediately after brushing my teeth; generally speaking it is advised to use mouthwash some considerable time after brushing your teeth, as by using immediately after cleaning your teeth can wash away much of the benefit brought about by the toothpaste and the act of cleaning.  Thus many, including the NHS advise using mouthwash at a different time.

Summary How I tested the mouthwash

• Test lasted for 1 week (7 days)
• Used at 3 different times of the day
• Used 10ml each time
• Used Oral-B Pro 6000 with CrossAction brush head
• Cleaned twice a day for 2 minutes each time
• Flossed once a day
• No changes in diet

Daily Usage

If you are looking for a mouthwash that will simply clean away bacteria, leave your mouth feeling fresh and can be used everyday, then Colgate Peroxyl is not for you.

Yes, it removes bacteria, yes it leaves your mouth feeling fresh, but it is not designed to be used everyday.

This is because of the ingredients within it, the main one being hydrogen peroxide.

This is a chemical compound that is used in bleaching and disinfectants. Do not be put off, it is perfectly safe as an oral antiseptic cleanser or mouthwash as it is in a much smaller dose.

However it should not be over-used and it is advised to cease using this mouthwash after 7 days irrespective of whether there has been an improvement in the oral health or not.

Colgate Peroxyl looks to target and treat irritations within the mouth.  This could be split or bleeding gums, ulcers and more.

When used, the hydrogen peroxide within the liquid makes contact with peroxidases and catalases (essentially bad bacteria enzymes) present in tissues (gums) and saliva, which causes the rapid release of oxygen.

This reaction provides mechanical cleansing which flushes out mouth debris.

It also helps to facilitate healing and alleviates discomfort caused by minor mouth and gum irritations, such as aphthous ulcers, pericoronitis and trauma from fixed orthodontic braces.

The chemical reaction is also antibacterial in itself. This can help reduce the number of some types of bacteria in the mouth.

In its raw form hydrogen peroxide is extremely strong and is diluted within this mouthwash to just 1.5g per every 100ml, equivalent to 1.5%. This dilution is weak enough to be safe yet strong enough to be effective.

OK, so the ingredients are in place to work but what is it like to use?

The mouthwash itself is an aqua blue colour, not clear.  It has quite a strong smell to it if you put your nose in close to the bottle and to be honest you have to when it comes to taking your dosage.

When in the mouth though the taste is reasonably pleasant, certainly not bad (far better than many) but nor is it the best I have tasted. A mild flavour, it is not overpowering nor does it taste particularly medical in my opinion.

You can certainly feel the oxygen reaction as the result is a much frothier liquid when you come to spit it out.

The dosage is 10ml as is common amongst mouthwashes.

A 300ml bottle will get approximately 30 uses out of it.

As the advised usage time is 3 times a day for 7 days, 1 treatment will leave a little liquid in the bottom of a 300ml bottle.

If your dentist has advised differently, follow their advice.

As with any product ingested orally, should you notice any side effects stop using and seek further assistance. It perhaps goes without saying that if you are sensitive to hydrogen peroxide you should avoid this mouthwash.  It also contains levo-menthol which if accidentally ingested in excessive amounts may cause fits.

So do not swallow it – simply rinse it around the mouth for a minute and spit out.

If the mouthwash has not worked after 7 days and irritations persist, consult a dentist or medical professional as you may have a more serious condition requiring treatment.

Products like Corsodyl could be worth trying also as this targets the mouth and gums differently, but do be careful in the use of these following directions.

Children from the ages of 6-12 can use this but require adult supervision taking a similar or smaller dosage than an adult at 10ml.

At the time of testing I genuinely had a slight irritation to the mouth due to not feeling myself and generally being a bit run down.  Parts of my gums were a little inflamed and sensitive when brushed.

From the moment I began using this I felt some relief, but no sharp or sensitive pain or stinging sensation.  I was pleasantly surprised.

Corsodyl, a similar yet different product was much stronger and left quite a sour taste in the mouth. Chlorhexidine-containing mouthwashes, like Corsodyl, also have other negative side effects such as tooth staining and taste disturbances.

Peroxyl certainly left a freshness to the mouth, not quite as harsh as some and I could still taste the effects some 90 minutes later.

I did not notice nor have I seen others reporting of any common side effects like tooth staining, when using Peroxyl, so that is another positive here.

Unlike CB12 mouthwash that is a bit more statement than execution, the bottle used here by Colgate is functional and lacks shelf appeal.

Coming in 300ml bottles it is not small but not all that big and is a practical white colour with a slightly more colour rich label attached to it.

I think the good news here is that money has been spent on the product rather than the packaging.

The screw cap is a bit odd. Securing the bottle closed inside the cap from which you measure and drink the liquid is a taller tube.  It’s a bit small to try and pour the mouthwash into and then drink from. It does what it needs to, but when pouring you might need to concentrate.

Due to the limited time use of this product maybe this design is intentional? I think it could be better though.

Working out at anywhere between £4.50 and £4.70 per bottle Colgate Peroxyl is more expensive the more common everyday mouthwashes like Listerine but is more specialised so expect to pay a slight premium, although not a great one.

Each use cost about £0.15p.  For comparison’s sake, a conventional everyday mouthwash will work out at about 4-5p.

If this helps alleviate pain and saves a trip to the dentist, it could be a lot cheaper too!

Summary of Daily Usage

• Aqua blue in colour
• Froths quite a bit in the mouth
• Mild taste to the mouthwash that was not overpowering although the smell can be
• 1 x 10ml dosage rinsed and gargled in the mouth for a minute then spat out
• Lid has a measure in for controlling dosage of mouthwash
• The lid and measurement in the cap is a bit clunky and requires a bit of attention
• 300ml bottle offers approximately 30 uses
• 1 use can cost 15p or more

The Results

I can only speak from my experience with Colgate Peroxyl and my findings and results may well be different to yours.

I was actually suffering with a mild soreness and even light bleeding in the mouth at the time of testing (due to a few days poor routine and generally feeling run down) which allowed me to really experience the benefits during this testing period and it worked for me.

It improved the condition and within a couple of days my mouth felt healthier.

The irritation I felt may have been solved with returning to a good brushing routine, but I certainly found the pain was eased and soothed by the use of Peroxyl and probably sped the recovery process up by a day or two.

No side effects were experienced and the taste to me was ok.

Conclusion, is Colgate Peroxyl any good?

Yes, in my opinion it is.

This starts off from the fact that this is not a heavily marketed product, and is not widely available off the shelf.

A slightly strange viewpoint it might be, but sometimes if you have not seen or heard of it all that frequently means it is a little more specialised.  You have to go looking for it or specifically be advised about this until you know what it is, how well it works and where to get it from.

Whilst the dosage and extended use should ideally be advised by a dentist, unless you have any allergies or known reactions, there is little harm that can come from a week’s use.

It works differently to other medicated mouthwashes, such as Corsodyl, so it may be worthwhile trying such an alternative if you do not get on with Peroxyl.

FAQ’s

• Where can I buy Colgate Peroxyl?
  • You may find some Boots or Superdrug stores stocking this on the high street along with some pharmacists.  It may be a little easier to purchase online.  You can buy it from Amazon here.
• What are the ingredients in Peroxyl?
  • Hydrogen Peroxide 1.5% w/v, Sorbitol 70% w/w (Non-Crystallising), Ethanol 96% v/v, Poloxamer 338, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Salicylate, Levo-Menthol, Sodium Saccharin, Brilliant Blue FCF (E133) and Purified Water
• Does it contain fluoride?
  • No
• Does it contain alcohol?
  • Yes, it contains 6% alcohol.
• What does it taste like?
  • It has a mint flavour.
• How often should I rinse?
  • It is advised to rinse no more than 3 times a day for a period no greater than 7 days.  For best effects use after eating and avoid use within half an hour of brushing.
• Does it actually work?
  • Yes, I do believe so.  I felt and saw benefits as a results of using this. Individual conditions and circumstances will come into play.  Greater research sees few criticisms of this mouthwash.
• Does it hurt?
  • I did not find it to do so. If you should gain additional sensitivity or side effects as a result of using it, stop doing so and consult a dentist.
• How long does it last?
  • A 300ml bottle will last 30 uses of 10ml dosages or up to 10 days.
• Can it prevent “morning breath”?
  • Colgate Peroxyl has not been designed to eliminate this but if used last thing at night you may find some benefit to the freshness of your breath come morning.
• From what age can Colgate Peroxyl be first used?
  • 12 years old is the advised age without supervision from an adult.  Children aged 6-12 can use with adult supervision.
• Can you water down the mouthwash?
  • Yes, although this may reduce the effects.
• How should you use the mouthwash?
  • The advised directions for use are to rinse and gargle 10ml in the mouth for 1 minute, spit out and do not swallow.
• Does Colgate Peroxyl stain the teeth?
  • No, it does not.
• What is the shelf life of Colgate Peroxyl?
  • 24 months for the 300ml bottle. Do not use once the expiry date (printed on the bottle) has passed.
• Who produces Colgate Peroxyl?
  • Peroxyl is marketed by Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Ltd, Guilford Business Park, Middleton Road, Guilford, Surrey, GU2 8JZ but is manufactured by BCM limited, Than Road, Nottingham, NG20 2PR.