These Dentist-Approved Mouthwashes Will Zap Bad Breath, Protect Gums, and Prevent Cavities

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We updated this article in August 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

Choosing the best mouthwash is similar to searching for the best underwear: It’s a very personal journey that takes lots of trial and error. There are mouthwashes with and without fluoride, ones that are ideal for bad breath, and those that specifically promote gum health. Then there’s the taste and flavor factor, and avoiding that mouth-on-fire feeling we know all too well. The right choice for you will depend on what your mouth (and tastebuds) need.

But one thing’s for certain—regardless of the kind of mouthwash you choose, everyone should use a mouth rinse twice daily, says Brian Harris, D.D.S., D.M.D., lead medical advisor for SNOW and Frost Oral Care. “The goal of every mouthwash is to freshen breath and remove bacteria and other food particles from the teeth,” he explains. When used in conjunction with regular brushing and flossing, it provides a healthy and clean oral environment, he adds.

Meet the Experts: Brian Harris, D.D.S., D.M.D., lead medical advisor for SNOW and Frost Oral Care, Erin Issac, D.M.D., a board-certified pediatric dentist practicing in Pittsburgh, Gary Silverstrom, D.D.S., a dentist practicing in Livingston, NJ.

Our top picks

Plus, the daily swish helps prevent some serious oral issues “before they can even arise,” adds Gary Silverstrom, D.D.S., a dentist practicing in Livingston, NJ. “Some of these issues include, but are not limited to, gingivitis, gum disease, plaque, and decay.”

Start prioritizing your oral health today and peruse our list of expert-recommended picks to decide which mouth rinse is right for you.

Restoring Zero Alcohol Fluoride Mouthwash

Erin Issac, D.M.D., a board-certified pediatric dentist practicing in Pittsburgh, says fluoride-containing mouthwashes “can help you strengthen and remineralize the teeth, lowering the chance of getting cavities.” That’s why she recommends this one, which is alcohol-free and has great taste, according to dozens of Amazon shoppers.

“It has a good minty flavor without being too strong,” one reviewer writes. “My dental hygienist noticed a significant improvement between six-month cleanings.”

Pro-Health Mouthwash

This multi-tasking rinse will take care of it all: bad breath, plaque, and gum disease with the active ingredient cetylpyridinium chloride. Plus, it’s alcohol-free, so you won’t have to feel the burn. That’s why it’s a go-to for Dr. Silverstrom. One happy Walmart customer writes “After using it, my mouth felt clean and refreshed, and my breath stayed fresh for hours. I also appreciate that it’s alcohol-free, which means it’s gentle on the mouth and doesn't cause any stinging or burning.”

Fresh Breath Oral Rinse

There’s a reason this rinse went viral on TikTok—it has some serious breath-freshening powers. And those are all thanks to its dentist-formulated and patented Oxychlor compounds. Plus, peppermint essential oil keeps the flavor easily swishable for longer than a few seconds. With over 35,000 Amazon reviews, the mouthwash maintains a 4.6-star rating. “This stuff is a miracle!” one shopper writes. “After 1 use, my husband’s breath was fresh, no after-odor. A few hours after his first use, his breath was still fresh.”

Alkalizing Balancing Mouthwash

While many of our top picks are free of alcohol, this one from Dr. Issac is special. It’s a pH-balancing formula that “uses a few different ingredients—like xylitol and sodium bicarbonate—to inhibit growth of bad bacteria and balance the pH of the oral ecosystem,” she explains, adding: “When the pH balance of the mouth is out of whack, it makes it much easier for dental decay to occur.” That’s why she doesn’t usually recommend rinses containing alcohol, especially for kids, because they might kill off good bacteria the mouth needs to fight off the bad ones.

Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening Mouthwash

This rinse has all of the multi-tasking benefits of the regular Pro-Health formula (plaque clearing, gum disease and bad breath preventing) plus the added bonus of teeth whitening. “I always get asked how I keep my teeth so white,” one reviewer writes. “This is it!”

Total Care Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash

Dr. Silverstrom recommends this fluoride mouthwash as a go-to for cavity prevention. It strengthens teeth, zaps bad breath, and contains zero alcohol. “My dentist told me to use this product when I first started going to her,” one reviewer writes. “I haven't had one cavity since.”

Bubblegum Burst Mouthwash

Great for kids or folks who love bubblegum, Dr. Harris recommends Frost’s Bubblegum Burst. Gentle fluoride combined with hydroxyapatite and a special herb blend makes for a slightly sweet, no-sting formula. “It tastes great and kids love it!” he says. One SNOW reviewer writes “My 3 year old son & 5 year old daughter now love to brush and mouthwash in morning before school and at night because of how fun these products are and incredible flavors. They literally compete to be first for mouth wash to help them develop great clean habits in the bathroom. Bravo!”

Ready! Tabs

There’s nothing quite like running late or hopping off a red-eye with that slimy mouth feeling. These convenient, on-the-go tabs turn from a solid to a liquid in seconds, giving you the swishable refresh you need. They’re also safe to swallow. But it’s important to note that these are more for bad breath than anything—they aren’t an effective gum treatment or cavity prevention. “They make your breath smell fresh and mouth feel clean, and don’t leave behind any heavy film or unpleasant coating,” one Amazon reviewer raves.

Natural Mint Mouth Rinse

Dr. Harris recommends this mouthwash to most adults “because of its natural ingredients and taste,” he says. “It contains essential oils which neutralize sulphur compounds and give you fresh breath.” The key ingredients are aloe leaf extract, which acts as an anti-inflammatory, and tea tree leaf oil to promote a healthy oral microbiome.

How to choose and use the best mouthwash

Pour, gurgle, and spit might seem like a no-brainer, but there’s more to rinsing than meets the eye. Here are some expert-backed tips for shopping and keeping your mouth clean.

✔️ Avoid high alcohol content: Alcohol is responsible for the fiery burn many washes leave in your mouth. “It may feel like it’s working, but it can actually be doing more damage than good,” explains Dr. Harris. “It can dry out the oral tissues. Most toothpastes contain anionic compounds, and mouthrinses contain cationic compounds. When combined, the reaction creates a drying effect in the mouth.” Alcohol can also create an imbalanced oral microbiome, eliminating the good bacteria it needs.

✔️ Pay attention to active ingredients: “Some key ingredients to look out for in mouthwash can be fluoride, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, different kinds of peroxides,” says Dr. Silverstrom. “These all depend on what your current dental needs are and which would help those needs the best.”

✔️ Rinse twice daily: Both morning and night, ideally after brushing and flossing, says Dr. Harris.

How we chose the best mouthwashes

We consulted oral health experts Brian Harris, D.D.S., D.M.D., lead medical advisor for SNOW and Frost Oral Care, Erin Issac, D.M.D., a board-certified pediatric dentist practicing in Pittsburgh, Gary Silverstrom, D.D.S., a dentist practicing in Livingston, NJ. We also considered hundreds of customer reviews to narrow down the best mouth rinses for various needs.

Why trust us

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

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