Burn baby burn (Corsodyl)

Member Name: Caradawn

Product:	Corsodyl
Date:	10/12/02 (3489 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clears up Gingivitis, Helps keep plaque at bay

Disadvantages: Price, Can cause discolouration

During my last pregnancy, I began to suffer from a bit of Gingivitis (gum disease). Apparently it is a common problem during pregnancy due to various changes in the body which I don't fully understand. Fortunately I managed to keep it at bay with a mouth wash called Peroxyl which is manufactured by Colgate. It contains Hydrogen Peroxide (yes that stuff you use to bleach hair!) and supposed to relieve minor gum irritations. Unfortunately, although it kept the Gingivitis from spreading or getting any worse, it did not actually cure the problem. The affected area remained slightly red and swollen looking, though not painful or bleeding, until my current pregnancy when it flared up and started bleeding again.

I had heard of Corsodyl first time around and knew that it was specifically aimed at curing Gingivitis (the active ingredient being chlorhexidine gluconate) and also that it was advertised as being safe for pregnant women. However, at the time it wasn't as readily available as it is now and I didn't fancy asking for it over the counter. I spotted it this time around at my local Tesco, when I went to purchase some more Peroxyl. At over £4.00 for 300ml (it is also available in 600ml) it was more expensive than the Peroxyl which comes to about £3.75 for 300ml, but I thought that if it did the job then it would be worth it.

Corsodyl is available in two flavours, Original, which is aniseed flavour, and Mint, which self explanatory I guess. On saying that though it doesn't taste like Mint in the conventional sense, it has an odd taste. The only thing I can compare it to is Weleda Mouth Wash (if you've ever tried that or even heard of Weleda). They are easy enough to tell apart on the shelf as the Original flavour has a red label and the Mint has a green label.

The lid doubles up as a measuring cup and when I first opened the bottle I noticed that there was no tamper proof seal of any kind, unlike with Peroxyl, which co

uld be a little
disconcerting (after all anyone could add something to it). The label peels back to reveal a whole host of information, including how to use and cautions. It says that no special precautions are needed if you are pregnant or breast feeding, but as with the Peroxyl (and in fact most medicines) it warns that you should consult your doctor or dentist before using. Apparently accidentally swallowing the product is unlikely to cause any harm, but personally I believe that once you've tasted Corsodyl, swallowing it would be the last thing you'd want to do!

In the information it tells you that: "You may notice a change of taste or a burning sensation on the tongue when you first use the mouthwash. These effects usually go away as you continue to use the product." Well, having experienced the stinging sensation you get with Peroxyl, which does fade as you continue to use it, I did expect the a similar sort sensation with Corsodyl. Unfortunately I wasn't quite prepared for how bad it would be. You are supposed to rinse your mouth with 10ml of Corsodyl for about a minute, twice daily. If you can keep it in your mouth for a minute you are either a stronger person than I or have a numb mouth! 'Burning sensation' is an accurate description! As for the taste, it stays in your mouth for hours after use and over rules the first tastes of any food or drink you have later. If you have ever had an extra strong mint and immediately followed it by a drink, then you will have a good idea of what this is like. As for the effects going away with continued use, well they didn't for me. It continued to burn in the same way as the first time I used it. It is quite possible though that only a handful of people experience this burning sensation to the extent that I did. At this point I should probably mention that I found the Mint flavour burnt my mouth more than the Original aniseed flavour.

Burning sensations aside thoug
h, I was initially rather pleased with the results I got. As recommended, I used it after brushing my teeth and found that th
ere was next to no plaque build up throughout the day;
even when I ate fatty foods which usually give me a nice thick plaque coating over the whole of my mouth. The Gingivitis was stopped in its tracks and the affected area of gum even started to return to its original colour. However, as I came towards the end of the bottles I noticed a few drawbacks...

There is a note on the bottle which tells you that Corsodyl may cause discolouration of the tongue and teeth. To avoid this they suggest brushing well before use and avoiding foods and drinks with tannin in for at least an hour after use. The good news is that my tongue kept its nice pink colour, however, where I had the Gingivitis I avoided brushing too hard so as to avoid making the gum bleed and to attempt to help it heal. Consequently near the gum line of that area the teeth have taken on and brownish colour. Okay it?s not readily noticeable and shouldn't be permanent, but if it does linger a 'simple scale and polish by your dentist' will apparently get rid of it (for some reason though, my dentist doesn't seem to like doing scale and polishes !?!). I have also noticed that a tooth coloured filling I have in one of my front incisors has turned brown (more so than the teeth) and the label doesn't say anything about whether this could be permanent.

Gingivitis requires the longest course of treatment as it is recommended you use it for 30 days. Other oral problems Corsodyl can be used for are mouth ulcers and oral thrush which do not require such a long treatment time. Therefore with the shorter treatments I suppose it is quite possible that discolouration may not occur at all.

Something I should also note is an allergic reaction my partner had to the product. He rinsed with it after brushing when his gums started bleeding. It didn'
;t harm his mouth at all, but he wiped the excess off his lips with the back of his hand and the skin there came up in blisters. U
pon reading the label again I realised that there was a warning that it could cause
skin irritation. It can also cause peeling of the skin on the inside of the mouth. This latter problem, so it says, can be solved by diluting it half and half with water.

I have reached the conclusion that if you have sensitive skin you should probably only use Corsodyl if you have severe Gingivitis. It is after all the most effective product I have yet come across for this problem. If you have particularly sensitive skin then you probably shouldn't use it neat, but dilute it straight away and err on the side of caution.


Useful information:

Made by:
Smithkline Beecham Consumer Health Care
Maidenhead
SL6 4BL
U.K.


~#~ Caradawn ~#~

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