After I had my wisdom teeth out my dentist recommend I use Corsodyl mint mouthwash which contains an active ingredient called chlorhexidine. This acts as antiseptic and disinfectant agent and fights against bacteria, viruses, throat infections and fungi within the mouth, as well as other common problems such as ulcers. It also helps maintain general oral hygiene and plaque build up lessening the chance of gingivitis (bleeding and inflammation of the gums). It is used after dental surgery to fend off infection because infection will slow down the healing process and of course add to any discomfort.

I continued using the mouthwash for several months on a daily basis, on my dentist's recommendation. Although the area where my wisdom teeth had been removed had healed up nicely she thought it was beneficial to continue using it to maintain oral health. I was happy to use it as I found my mouth felt much cleaner as a result and it really did stop me from getting the nasty sore throats which I had been suffering from frequently. It also helped speed up the healing of mouth ulcers of which I am prone.

Unfortunately, whilst it did wonders for my ulcers and sore throat my teeth became really discoloured. Over time ( 6 months) they turned a yucky yellow colour. It got so I was embarrassed to open my mouth. It remained a bit of a mystery to me though as I have never had this problem before and am not a big coffee or red wine drinker, which are often the culprits behind teeth staining. I decided to book in with the hygienist to see if she could do something about my teeth.

Turns out that Corsodyl mouthwash can cause both temporary teeth and tongue discoloration. I now know this fact is stated on the Corsodyl but I stupidly had neglected to read it (I've now learnt my lesson). The lovely hygienist lady gave my teeth a good clean and told me to lay off the mouthwash. But "what will I do about my ulcers and sore throats I asked her?" Little did I know she had an ace up her sleeve in the form of Corsodyl mint spray. This is exactly the same as the mouthwash but in the form of a spray. The 60ml spray comes with a 2inch pump nozzle that you attach to the bottle to allow the spray to be targeted where needed, for me this is directly at the back of the throat or on the gums. This stops any of the chlorhexidine from getting on my teeth and therefore prevents discolouration. The nozzle can then easily be removed and rinsed to keep it clean. It suggested that up to 12 pumps be used twice daily. I don't find it necessary to use this much, 6 is generally sufficient for me.

Alternatively, if you are using the mouthwash the treatment amount is dependent on the problem but this information is provided on the mouthwash. When I used it for general oral health I used 1 capful (10mls) twice a day. It's necessary to keep the mouthwash in the mouth for about 1 minute before spitting it out. Because Chlorhexidine is 'incompatible' with toothpastes Corsodyl should not be used at the same time as brushing your teeth, this is a bit of a pain as you need to leave about a 30 minute gap.

The taste of the Corsodyl is the same for both the mint mouthwash and mint spray. Though I would say the mouthwash is the strongest form of taste. I don't mind it but know that it does cause a problem for some. It's hard to describe the strength of the taste but if you imagine a really strong mint and then times it by 10 add in the medicinal taste of a cough sweet and this will be the overall effect you are likely to get. It's so minty in the mouth that the tongue can become temporarily numb with a slight burning sensation which is also temporary. Everything you eat or drink for an hour or two after tastes pretty non descript.

There is an original version of the mouthwash but I'm not keen on the taste of that at all. There is also a 'daily mouthwash' which is a much weaker version, so far more palatable and doesn't cause teeth discolouration. I have tried this one but without much success for my sore throats and ulcers. I feel it is perhaps designed for general oral hygiene, though my hygienist has said it helps some of her patients.

As with any medication there are some warnings to consider. Corsodyl should not be used by anybody allergic to chlorhexidine. As far as pregnancy and breastfeeding go Corsodyl is not known to be harmful. Aside from the effects already mentioned there are some other potential side effects associated with Corsodyl which include: swelling of the salivary glands and skin irritation.

Both the Corsodyl spray and mouthwash contain the same ingredients these are:

0.2% w/v chlorhexidine digluconate, ethanol 7% v/v, macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate, sorbitol, peppermint oil, water.

It's easy to buy Corsodyl , you don't need a prescription. All of the mouthwashes are available at chemists and places like wilkinsons as well as some supermarkets. I've only managed to find the spray through an online retailer, I use www.chemistdirect.co.uk. Corsodyl mint mouthwash costs approximately £3.20 for a 300ml bottle whereas the spray is more expensive at approximately £6.00 for 60ml. I would say it's definitely worth it though, if you suffer from ulcers and sore throats, believe me it will help.