Mouthrinses do not penetrate to the base of the periodontal pocket. Therfore, use of topical agents should be used primarily as an adjunct in the treatment of gingivitis. Topical agents and mouthrinses have no place in the treatment of periodontal disease because they don't get to the base of the pocket. The Council on Dental Therapeutics, however, disagreed with the methods of the study and felt more research was needed before such claims could be made. Pure ethanol never has been shown to cause cancers.
Problems arise from the preservatives and flavoring agents in the mouthrinses used.
The pH of Coke is 3.0. Alcohol's function is to dissolve the active agents and the flavoring systems. Listerine needs the high pH to dissolve the essential active oil. Non-alcohol rinses aren't effective except for halitosis. Listerine contains pure ethanol - is 52 proof.