mouthwashes

bjlockie

I am trying to find out if Listerine is made in Canada,
I think it is a Canadian division of an American company but the bottle doesn't say where it is made.
One of the FAQ questions is "Do you have a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol?".
Why do they even made the kind with alcohol?

Hydraglass

bjlockie wow what a rabbit hole I went down looking for that. Listerine is now a Kenvue component after J&J sold it off etc - they have 22000 employees and facilities in Asia, South America, North America, and Europe. I found manufacturing for north america in Guelph ON and Fort Washington PA - but I couldn't find which product lines are made at which facility (and I found several are outsourced to third party suppliers as well) -- so it doesn't look like they are publicly sharing which products are done where - or by who even (for example they are also Tylenol, but I know Tylenol for the Canadian market is made by Trillium Health in Brockville - they don't mention that anywhere).

GrumpyCanadian

bjlockie Why do they even made the kind with alcohol?

I have tried almost all of their alcohol-free formulations, and find that they give me a severe case of "cotton-mouth". The versions containing alcohol, even the original unflavoured one that tastes almost as bad as Buckley's Mixture, don't. The alcohol used does have well-proven antiseptic properties, which is probably why it's there. When I need something alcohol-free, I choose a different brand altogether.

Thane_Bitter

FrathosCAN Warner-Lambert Canada was bought out by Pfizer, Wellcome started as a uk company that became a US one, used to have the most kick ass cool HQ in NC when it was called Burroughs Wellcome.

bjlockie Why do they even made the kind with alcohol?
It's a good disinfectant, but probably was included because of the times and the burning mouth effect it gives people would think it's doing more killing of nasty things.

FrathosCAN

The back label bottom left corner used to say where it was made a long time ago:
TM/MC Warner Lambert Co, mfr. by/fab. par
Warner-Lambert Canada Inc. for/pour Warner Wellcome, lic. use/sous lic. Scarborough, ONT, M1L 2N3

px_eliezer_

Kenvue Canada expands Ontario manufacturing facility to boost production of over-the-counter medicines

Kenvue Canada Inc., a division of Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) (“Kenvue”), the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue and maker of iconic brands such as Tylenol®, Aveeno, Listerine® and Neutrogena®, announced the completion of its newly expanded manufacturing facility in Guelph, Ontario.

https://www.kenvue.com/media/kenvue-canada-expands-ontario-manufacturing-facility

Wow, it's in Guelph.

Maybe Trudeau can issue an order calling it the "Guelph of Canada". 😃

Dks01

px_eliezer_ This is not an uncommon practice. The US owner licenses the product to a regional manufacturer to customize the product to comply with local markets and local laws. Some ingredients in the US product may not be permitted in other countries. Listerine original is 21.5% alcohol with essential oils added to make it undrinkable. But people do drink it. https://www.listerine.ca/our-heritage

bjlockie

GrumpyCanadian When I need something alcohol-free, I choose a different brand altogether.

Can you recommend any?

Sparkchaser

I use Crest Pro-Health Advanced (no alcohol) . mostly made in the US.

Astyanax

Sparkchaser I use Crest Pro-Health Advanced (no alcohol) . mostly made in the US.

Trying to get them to fraternize with the enemy I see. GJ! 😄

Anyway a lot of products can be made with common ingredients found anywhere. As mentioned it's just a recipe you make with common ingredients. Or with say Coca-Cola they just ship the syrup to you and you just provide the carbonated water.

As for mouthwash I use Act Total Care which has no alcohol but also contains fluoride (and not that same commie fluoride stuff you know that's in the tap water! /s 🤪 ).

I know this is a link from an "enemy" store but it's what I can easily provide.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/ACT-Total-Care-Anticavity-Fluoride-Mouthwash-Fresh-Mint-33-8-fl-oz/14711245

Hydraglass

Sparkchaser I use Crest Pro-Health Advanced (no alcohol) . mostly made in the US.

Same - I have found CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) based mouthwash overall far better -

No aftertaste and no alcohol,
It works better - I've had far less tartar/plaque buildup since switching to the Total,
The taste is much more pleasant
It has been clinically proven to be anti-viral and if gargled when used 2x a day can help prevent cold/flu/covid/rsv/etc - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34282982/

Edit to add - some (small percent) of people do find CPC to alter/diminish their tastebud activity - I've seen reviews where people have complained they can't taste after using it - but they seem very rare - but it's just a warning for anyone who tries it.

GrumpyCanadian

Hydraglass Edit to add - some (small percent) of people do find CPC to alter/diminish their tastebud activity - I've seen reviews where people have complained they can't taste after using it - but they seem very rare - but it's just a warning for anyone who tries it.

One of the CPC formulations was recommended to me by a dental professional, but I am one of those who experiences unpleasant effects from the current formulations. He originally said I should use the Oral-B product, which, although it cost more, I was able to use without trouble. Since it is no longer available, I tried both the Colgate and Crest products. I found both of them had an unpleasant short-term after-taste and caused an inability to taste much of anything after some time.

So, I'm not so sure those effects are directly related to the CPC, or if it's one of the other ingredients (all had CPC as active ingredient, in the same claimed concentration). I have also had the idea to use the mouthwash first, expel, then brush and rinse to see if that solves the problems, but haven't tried it yet.

GrumpyCanadian

bjlockie I've tried so many, I don't even remember them all (some of them didn't work at all). For now, I went with the value size of Listerine (alcohol formulation). Recently, I have used Tom's of Maine in their "Wicked Fresh!" formulation. If I remember correctly, it is also fluoride free. It works acceptably well, and doesn't leave me smelling like a boozer.

I have also used TheraBreath, which is somewhat more expensive, but rather effective. I don't think either of those are Canadian-made, however.

I have also seen a product from The Green Beaver Company, called NaturaFresh, I think. That one is Canadian-made and alcohol-free, but I haven't tried it yet. It seems to be stocked at some Quebec Maxi stores, so I suspect you would be able to find it at Loblaws/Superstore or Shoppers.