Quote Originally Posted by andruejaysin
...I was in rehab with a guy who drank mouthwash all the time, and it didn't hurt him.
Don't be so sure of that. While the type of denatured alcohol used in mouthwashes - SD or specially denatured alcohol, as opposed to completely denatured alcohol - is considered "safe" if consumed accidentally in small quantites, when drunk in large quantities can cause long-term neurological problems and cumulative liver damage. You may not drop dead right away, but if you keep it up for a long period of time, you're just asking for trouble. And if you grab a bottle of fluoride mouthwash, you could drop dead right away. Fluoride poisoning is nothing to screw around with:
Once absorbed, fluoride binds calcium ions and may lead to hypocalcemia. Fluoride has direct cytotoxic effects and interferes with a number of enzyme systems; it disrupts oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, coagulation, and neurotransmission (by binding calcium). Fluoride inhibits Na+/K+ -ATPase, which may lead to hyperkalemia by extracellular release of potassium. Fluoride inhibits acetylcholinesterase, which may be partly responsible for hypersalivation, vomiting, and diarrhea (cholinergic signs). Seizures may result from both hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia. Severe fluoride toxicity will result in multiorgan failure. Central vasomotor depression as well as direct cardiotoxicity also may occur. Death usually results from respiratory paralysis, dysrhythmia, or cardiac failure.