Even with the best brushing and flossing techniques, you might want to add a little extra freshness or whiteness to your teeth, or you might want to address issues like cavities or bad breath. Your mouth may feel cool and fresh after rinsing with mouthwash.

Comparable to shopping for underwear, selecting the best mouthwash for oral problems requires a great deal of trial and error. There are mouthwashes for bad breath, gum disease, and mouthwashes with and without fluoride. The taste and flavor components come next. What your mouth (and taste buds) require will determine what your go-to is.

Here we pick up the top 10 best mouthwash for your reference. Interested? Keep reading!

Best Mouthwash List For Bad Breath

• 1. Best Overall Mouthwash: CARIFREE CTx3 Fluoride Rinse
• 2. Best Mouthwash For Bad Breath: THERABREATH Fresh Breath Oral Rinse
• 3. Best Mouthwash For Gum Health: DENTAL HERB COMPANY Tooth & Gums Tonic Mouthwash
• 4. Best Value Mouthwash: ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash
• 5. Best Freshening Mouthwash: LISTERINE Freshburst Antiseptic Mouthwash
• 6. Best Mouthwash With Essential Oils: RISEWELL Alkalizing Mouthwash
• 7. Best Mouthwash For Whitening: CREST Pro-Health Clinical Mouthwash
• 8. Best Rremineralizing Mouthwash: Lumineux Oral Essentials
• 9. Best Non-mint Natural Mouthwash: Closys
• 10. Best Alcohol-free Mouthwash: Alkalizing Balancing Mouthwash

Best Mouthwash Review For Bad Breath

1. Best Overall Mouthwash: CARIFREE Ctx3 Fluoride Rinse

Pros

• Helps reduce cavities
• Remineralizes enamel
• Available in citrus and grape flavors

Cons

• Pricey

Because the benefits of the ingredients have been supported by research, Huang lists this as her top professional recommendation for mouthwash. She likes that it’s alcohol-free, elevates 3 grams of xylitol contained in each dose of PH, which remineralizes enamel, is non-staining, and helps to prevent cavities.

Additionally, sodium fluoride is added to it to help prevent tooth decay and white spots. This mouthwash comes in grape and citrus flavors in addition to mint, unlike the majority of mouthwashes, which only have mint as an option. It is advised to use it after brushing and flossing twice a day.

2. Best Mouthwash For Bad Breath: Therabreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse

Pros

• Contains beneficial menthol and peppermint oil

Cons

• Some say the flavor is too mild

TheraBreath is our top recommendation to combat odor if you’re trying to fight bad breath. It is specially designed with active components like menthol, which the ADA claims may be more efficient for the long-term control of bad breath. Additionally, TheraBreath asserts that its formulation was specifically designed to combat bad breath for up to 24 hours.

The Icy Mint formula contains peppermint oil that not only refreshes the mouth but also “helps fight oral bacteria” says Huang. According to TheraBreath, you should use this alcohol-free remedy morning and night by gargling for 30 seconds after swishing a capful for a minute to clean your throat, which can also be a source of bad breath.

3. Best Mouthwash For Gum Health: Dental Herb Company Tooth & Gums Tonic Mouthwash

Pros

• Formulated with essential oils and herbal extracts
• Contains anti-inflammatory ingredients

Cons

• Pricey

This mouthwash can help improve your gum health by reducing bleeding and inflammation. Because this brand has scientific support and research showing that it works to reduce dental plaque, gingival inflammation, and bad breath, Huang particularly likes it.

According to Huang, important components like Gotu kola and echinacea both aid in reducing inflammation and promoting healing and repair. The drawback of this product is that it is relatively expensive in comparison to other mouthwashes.

4. Best Value Mouthwash: Act Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash

Pros

• Alcohol-free
• Contains anti-cavity ingredients
• Available in three flavors

Cons

• The flavor may not be strong enough for some

Our experts advise this drugstore pick as a mouthwash to help prevent cavities if you’re looking for something less expensive than our top pick.

Since it doesn’t contain alcohol, it won’t likely cause your mouth to become dry, which can cause cavities. Sodium fluoride, an anti-cavity component, is also present. This product, which comes in the flavors of mint, an arctic blast, and cinnamon, should be used once daily after brushing with toothpaste.

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5. Best Freshening Mouthwash: Listerine Freshburst Antiseptic Mouthwash

Pros

• Works well to refresh the mouth
• Icy mint flavor provides an extra kick of mint

Cons

• Contains alcohol

Listerine is a brand that is continuously mentioned by our staff as their go-to mouthwash, and many come back to it after trying other brands. No other product, according to several GH editors, works quite as well, and they adore the flavor of the fresh mint. One staff member said they favor the Freshburst flavor because it “doesn’t have as strong of a burning sensation as other types of Listerine.”

Another staff member recommends Listerine Icy Mint for those who prefer a stronger mint flavor and want to feel more refreshed after using it. However, keep in mind that alcohol, which is present in these mouthwashes, can dry out the mouth and increase the risk of cavities over time while also possibly worsening bad breath.

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6. Best Mouthwash With Essential Oils: Risewell Alkalizing Mouthwash

Pros

• Helps fight inflammation

Cons

• Pricey

Huang prefers Risewell’s mouthwash because it is made with essential oils, which she claims have numerous advantages. The formulation includes essential oils such as tea tree oil and cinnamon which according to Huang has antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties.

She also claims that eucalyptus, lemon, and orange oils can reduce inflammation. In order to help prevent cavities, xylitol inhibits harmful bacteria. The use of this is advised both in the morning and at night or whenever your mouth requires reviving.

7. Best Mouthwash For Whitening: Crest Pro-health Clinical Mouthwash

Pros

• Helps reduce plaque and gingivitis
• Helps whiten teeth

Cons

• May leave an aftertaste

Our Lab experts consistently prefer Crest, and Pro-Health Clinical mouthwash is a staff member favorite. This mouthwash contains cetylpyridinium chloride which the ADA says can help reduce plaque and gingivitis along with hydrogen peroxide to help whiten teeth. It is suggested that you use it following your regular brushing and flossing routine.

8. Best Remineralizing Mouthwash: Lumineux Oral Essentials

Pros

• Rich mineral content
• Natural taste
• Contains other natural healing ingredients

Cons

• Mildly chemical after taste

Our teeth need minerals, just like how we take vitamins for our bodies. Remineralization, a process where minerals are returned to your teeth, can be assisted by specific mouthwashes. Although some toothpaste has these qualities, using a remineralizing mouthwash can also speed up the process.

“Lumineux Oral Essentials is a dentist-formulated mouthwash made with Dead Sea salt, well-known for its rich mineral content,” Dr. Rozenberg said. “Aloe vera juice, which is well known for its calming and healing properties, and holy basil oil, a known adaptogen that studies suggest may be useful in aiding the body’s adaptation to stress, are also included in this mouthwash.”

When it comes to taste, I found that this mouthwash had more of a “real” or natural mint vibe, but it also had a super mild chemical-like aftertaste. However, considering the advantages listed above, it wasn’t powerful enough for me to advise against using it.

9. Best Non-mint Natural Mouthwash: Closys

Pros

• Neutral taste unless you add flavor
• Contains an expert-recommended antimicrobial agent
• Has bad breath smashing ingredient

Cons

• Adding flavor drops is one more step

If you don’t really enjoy strong flavors but still want the advantages of mouthwash, consider Closys. The flavor drops that come with the mouthwash, which are made with the all-natural ingredients peppermint and mineral oil, can be used to either enhance or mask the mouthwash’s neutral flavor.

Additionally, it is a top-notch mouthwash overall. “It contains chlorine dioxide which kills bacteria and oxidizes volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath,” explains Dental implant, cosmetic, and restorative specialist Phil Devore, DDS, who practices at Image Dental in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Joseph Field, DDS, a dentist in Los Altos, CA agreed, calling it the “best over-the-counter mouth rinse

10. Best Alcohol-free Mouthwash: Alkalizing Balancing Mouthwash

Pros

• Natural ingredients
• PH-Balancing

Cons

• Not as affordable

Although many of our top choices are alcohol-free, 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 the growth of bad bacteria and balance the pH of the oral ecosystem. Dental decay is much easier to develop when the pH balance of the mouth is out of whack.

Because they may kill the beneficial bacteria the mouth needs to fight off the harmful ones, she typically advises against using alcohol-containing rinses, especially on children.

When Should You Use Mouthwash: Before Or After Brushing?

Although people frequently question which comes first, brushing, flossing, or rinsing doesn’t really matter. In fact, using mouthwash isn’t necessarily “a standard part of recommended maintenance.” Flossing and brushing with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes is enough to accomplish everything you need to accomplish as far as keeping your teeth clean.

However, mouthwash can occasionally be a useful tool. For example, if you have an acidic drink like orange juice, the juice can “remove enamel molecules.” Brushing your teeth after said acidic drink can “hasten the erosion of enamel” over time, mouthwash might be a good substitute if you want to feel clean after consuming acidic foods or beverages. Some people also may need prescription mouthwashes or need to rinse more often for certain health reasons — dentists might suggest rinsing twice a day to treat halitosis and dry mouth or to induce enamel remineralization.

How To Pick The Best Mouthwash?

Here are some common ingredients that experts we spoke to highlighted, and how they can help improve dental health:

1. Cetylpyridinium chloride, or CPC, is found in mouthwashes as an antiseptic ingredient — Doniger told us it “kills bacteria by reducing plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation.” According to Hewlett, CPC belongs to a class of chemicals that are present in a variety of household cleaners, including detergents and disinfectant sprays.
2. Sodium fluoride: Fluorinated mouthwashes can help “decrease oral decay, strengthen tooth enamel and increase enamel remineralization,” The active component, sodium fluoride, is a typical component in toothpaste, but you can also find it in mouthwashes, according to Doniger.
3. Chlorine dioxide is an ingredient used for halitosis (bad breath), since it can reduce mouth bacteria that produce sulfur, according to Doniger.
4. Menthol, eucalyptol, and thymol are derived from various plants and essential oils. According to Hewlett, these ingredients help give mouthwashes the minty fresh flavor that consumers enjoy while also having some antiseptic qualities.
5. Hewlett claims that because alcohol is an astringent, it draws out moisture, giving your mouth an extra fresh sensation.
6. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygenating ingredient that can help with “wound healing and decreasing inflammation from periodontal disease or an infection around the crown of the tooth,” Hydrogen peroxide can also whiten teeth, according to Doniger, but Hewlett claims that this effect is minimal because the concentration is so low in these mouthwashes.

Our Verdict

In conclusion, CARIFREE CTx3 Fluoride Rinse is the best overall mouthwash. What is your choice to buy? Share with us and leave your comment below.

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