Review (5/5): Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield Mouthwash
I have been looking for an effective mouthwash that was alcohol free because I'm tired of the "alcohol burn" that comes with many of the top-named brands. When I saw this new product from Colgate I thought I would give it a try.
This new Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield is alcohol free and is advertised as an anti-gingivitis, anti-plaque mouthwash. The product I am reviewing is the 16.9 fluid ounce plastic bottle manufactured by the Colgate-Palmolive Company and comes with several fairly remarkable claims:
~ 12-hour protection against germs, even after eating and drinking.
~ Kills 99% of germs; kills germs that cause bad breath, gingivitis and plaque.
~ 24/7 protection.
When I first saw the 12-hour protection guarantee and then noted the 24/7 protection promise I thought, "Wait a minute!" I may not be a math wiz but those two claims don't add up. After closer observation I spotted the following recommendation: "Use 2X daily."
A couple of things I did like about the container were (1) the plastic cap came with a safety sealed wrapper around it so the consumer can be assured that there has been no tampering (most mouthwashes come this way, but not all do) and (2) the cap just screws off; no tricky push-it-down and turn or press-in-the-sides and turn caps. Also, if you flip the cap over so you can see the inside, there is what appears to be a cap inside of a cap. I doubt it was intended for this, but I found the inside cap could be used as a measuring cup for dispensing the right amount of mouthwash. I suspect the double-cap design is intended to prevent leakage but I thought it also worked well as a dispenser, too. Even though this was a 16.9 fluid ounce bottle, I was surprised just how quickly I used it up; even when using the nifty pseudo measuring cup I had discovered.
Now let's get to the questions most consumers have when they shop for mouthwash: (1) Does it work as advertised? and (2) what does it taste like? The product I have has a flavor that Colgate-Palmolive calls "Wintermint Rush." Now considering that I was looking for a mouthwash without a burning sensation or one with a soda pop taste I was hoping this "Wintermint Rush" also wouldn't taste like the title...a RUSH! After trying it out it definitely didn't have a burn or a rush. This mouthwash has a very mild, rather dull taste; no fizzing, bubbling, burning and definitely no rush; exactly what I was looking for. After rinsing I found the mouthwash left a fresh, clean taste in my mouth. But does it work like advertised? As far as I am concerned it does. My breath stayed reasonably fresh and free of an undesirable smell. I found the mouthwash left a pleasant coating on my lips, which my wife also found appealing. This new Colgate-Palmolive mouth also comes in two additional flavors: "Peppermint Blast" and "Spearmint Surge."
The label comes with many of the usual list of active and inactive ingredients, warnings and and so forth. This product is intended for use by adults and children over the age of five. One recommendation I thought was excellent was children 6 years to under 12-years-old should be supervised while using this mouthwash.
Overall I was pleased with this new Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield mouthwash. The fact that it doesn't have a strong flavor wasn't a problem for me. The taste isn't impressive, but then I don't purchase mouthwash for its jazzy flavor like I would the smell of my cologne. I buy it because it works; because it:
~ Kills germs.
~ Significantly prevents and reduces plaque.
~ Helps prevent gingivitis.
~ Has no alcohol burn.
~ Freshens breath.
Postscript (17 March 2014): I finished my bottle of Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield mouthwash this morning and I'm still impressed with this product. One additional note: I have been for decades prone to having minor, yet still annoying sores on the inside of my cheeks (not my gums) because of some prescribed medication I'm taking. After using this product for only a few days I haven't had another sore in my mouth. This was completely unexpected; what a relief.