a
trademark for an antiseptic mouthwash that appeared in the 1800s and which was first used as a disinfectant in
surgical procedures. It was named after
English surgeon Joseph Lister (1827-1912) who discovered that
bacteria was the
cause of infection after surgery and who performed the first ever antiseptic surgery in 1865. Listerine was used in the medical
field as a multipurpose antiseptic. It was also found to kill germs commonly found in the mouth, as those that
cause bad breath, plaque and inflammation of the gums and thus its sales extended into the dental
field as an
oral antiseptic.
a
brand of antiseptic mouthwash.
(trademark) a
brand of antiseptic mouthwash.