Act mouthwash is formulated to freshen a person's breath and also strengthen tooth enamel to prevent decay. It also aims to restore minerals to soft spots in teeth, according to product information. The mouthwash has some common ingredients like water and alcohol. It also has some elements that are not as commonly known.
Fluoride
Act Restoring Mouthwash Anticavity has 0.05 percent sodium fluoride. Dentists who want patients to strengthen their teeth often suggest using a fluoride mouthwash, and sodium fluoride is a commonly used solution, according to international healthcare company Bupa. Fluoride is an efficient way to prevent tooth decay, according to the American Dental Association. Fluoride can actually into tooth enamel to strengthen it against acid attacks, advises colgate.com.
Sweeteners
Act mouthwash has some sweetening ingredients. Sorbitol is made commercially out of cornstarch and is 60 percent as sweet as sucrose, according to sugar.org. Sodium saccharin is another artificial sweetener used in the mouthwash. This is used in tooth care products because it won't contribute to tooth decay, advises colgate.com.
Humectant
The propylene glycol is a humectant, or water-binding agent. It also can keep a product from freezing in the cold or melting in high heat, advises cosmeticscop.com.
Preservatives
Sodium benzoate, sodium phosphate and disodium phosphate are used as preservatives in Act mouthwash. These help to prevent microbial contamination as well as bacterial contamination of the product. Sodium phosphate is also a laxative and can cause kidney damage if misused, according to the the National Institutes of Health.
Stabilizers
The polysorbate 20 in Act mouthwash comes from lauric acid, which is made from coconuts. It acts as a stabilizer. Calcium disodium EDTA is another stabilizer. It prevents other ingredients in the mouthwash from binding with trace elements, such as minerals that might exist in water.
Color
Blue 1 is a water-soluble dye that is allowed by the Food and Drug Administration in foods and drugs. This dye is commonly used in food products like beverages and candy, and it is batch certified by the FDA. There have been reports of toxicity associated adding blue 1 to the nutrition formulas given to patients who need feeding tubes. However, there are no known reports of toxicity associated with general use, such as in mouthwash, according to the FDA.
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