Ethanol and pH levels of proprietary mouthrinses.

This study measured the pH and alcohol (ethanol) content of a number of proprietary mouthrinses available for purchase by the general public, as well as assessing the influence of the alcohol content on police exhaled air analysis (breathalysing) procedures. The majority of the mouthrinses were acidic, some with a pH as low as 3.40. Only one was found to be alkaline and one near neutral in pH. The ethanol content varied from 0 to 27 per cent. The effect of the alcohol content on the results of the exhaled air analysis were transient and would be unlikely to influence any legal proceedings.