Bulletin Daily Paper 12-13-13 The Bulletin Daily Print edition for Friday December 13, 2013Getty ImagesThe claim: Listerine can prevent and cure colds and sore throats; rinsing with it is as effective as flossing in fighting tooth and gum decay. The truth: Initially sold as a surgical antiseptic in the 19th century, Listerine was the first product marketed as a mouthwash starting in 1914. In a landmark 1976 case, the FTC declared that the health claims were bogus and forced Warner-Lambert, its manufacturer at the time, to spend $10 million on ads that read, “Contrary to prior advertising, Listerine will not help prevent colds or sore throats or lessen their severity.” More recently, in 2005, a federal judge ordered Pfizer, then maker of Listerine, to pull its commercials claiming that rinsing with Listerine is as effective as flossing in fighting tooth and gum decay. Falsely Advertised ProductsThe Too-Good-to-Be-True Product Hall of FameReebok EasyTone Shoes and ApparelListerineSplendaDr.