While brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing are non-negotiable, using mouthwash isn’t quite as essential. Think of it as a way to enhance your oral care routine, says Dr. Chris Salierno, the chief dental office at Tend. “Mouthwash is a great addition, but it should complement, not replace, brushing and flossing,” he says. “It can quickly apply special ingredients to your teeth, gums and other oral surfaces for an intended effect, like freshening breath, preventing cavities and protecting against gum disease.”
Anyone can use mouthwash, but it’s important to pick the right one for your needs. I talked to dentists to learn how to choose one and how often you should use it. I also rounded up a handful of options from brands like Act, Colgate and Listerine.
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How I picked the best mouthwashesWhile shopping for mouthwash, experts recommend considering the following factors.
- ADA Seal of Acceptance: The American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance is the gold standard when it comes to oral care products. When you see the seal on packaging, it means the brand submitted evidence to the organization showing that its product meets specific safety and efficacy standards. That doesn’t mean dental care products without the ADA’s seal are ineffective — it just means the brand hasn’t submitted their products for the organization to evaluate.
- Type: There are two types of mouthwash: therapeutic and cosmetic. Therapeutic mouthwashes are made with active ingredients that address issues like bacteria, gum disease, plaque, dry mouth and tooth decay, says Salierno. Cosmetic mouthwashes, on the other hand, temporarily freshen breath, but they don’t address the root cause of the issue. Think about your needs and talk to your dentist to determine which type of mouthwash you should use.
- Ingredients: The purpose of a mouthwash dictates what ingredients it’s made with. Therapeutic mouthwashes have active ingredients that target specific issues. For example, fluoride strengthens enamel, reduces decay and prevents cavities; essential oils, like menthol, thymol and eucalyptol, reduce plaque and freshen breath; and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) kills bacteria to reduce bad breath and plaque. Cosmetic mouthwashes, like TheraBreath’s Fresh Breath Oral Rinse, are mainly made with potent flavorings that linger in your mouth to temporarily get rid of bad breath.
- Alcohol: Some mouthwashes are made with alcohol, an ingredient that kills germs. It has a drying effect, so if you’re prone to dry mouth or have sensitive gums and cheek tissues, avoid mouthwashes with alcohol, says Dr. Matt Messina, an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Kids should not use mouthwashes with alcohol in case they swallow some — most kids’ mouthwashes are alcohol-free, says Salierno.
- Flavor: Mouthwashes can have minty, fruity or herbal flavors, some of which are more intense than others. That said, it may take some trial-and-error to find one you like using every day.
To recommend the best mouthwashes, I rounded up ADA-accepted options available over the counter. I included important information about each mouthwash, like its type, purpose, active ingredients and what flavors it comes in. All the mouthwashes below are alcohol-free.
Best for cavity prevention: Act Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
What we like
- Protects against cavities
- Built-in dosage cup
- Subtle yet fresh flavor
Something to note
- Made with artificial dyes
My dentist recommended this fluoride mouthwash years ago and I’ve used it ever since. It helps prevent cavities, strengthen enamel and freshen breath, according to the brand. I buy the mint flavor, which is concentrated enough to leave my mouth feeling fresh and clean, but subtle enough that it doesn’t last for too long. I appreciate that the bottle’s opening has a built-in dosage cup — you hold the bottle upright, squeeze its center to fill the line on the top and pour it into a cup. You need to give the fluoride in this mouthwash time to work once it’s on your teeth, so the brand recommends not eating or drinking for 30 minutes after rinsing.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: prevent tooth decay | Active ingredients: sodium fluoride | Flavors: mint, arctic blast, cinnamon
Best for gingivitis prevention: Colgate Total Active Prevention Mouthwash
What we like
- Antibacterial formula
- Up to 24 hours of protection
- Quickly freshens breath
Something to note
- Made with artificial dyes
“Because my mom is a dental hygienist, she’s always bringing home oral care products and recently recommended this mouthwash to me because it’s great for the overall health of my mouth,” says NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez. “I use it after brushing and flossing, and I feel like my teeth are cleaner overall and my mouth feels more fresh.” Colgate’s rinse fights the bacteria that contributes to issues like gingivitis, plaque and bad breath for up to 24 hours after use, according to the brand. It’s also made with zinc to help freshen breath. I’ve tried the peppermint flavor of this mouthwash, which has a strong flavor that quickly gets rid of lingering tastes from food or beverages.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: prevent and reduce gingivitis | Active ingredients: cetylpyridinium chloride | Flavors: spearmint, peppermint
Best mild taste: Listerine Total Care Zero Alcohol Anticavity Mouthwash
What we like
- Protects against cavities
- Strengthens enamel
- Mild taste
Something to note
- Made with artificial dyes
Listerine’s mouthwash helps strengthen enamel, prevent cavities and freshen breath, according to the brand. It has a mild taste, and since it’s made with fluoride, the brand recommends not eating or drinking for 30 minutes after rinsing.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: prevent tooth decay | Active ingredients: sodium fluoride | Flavors: spearmint, peppermint
Best for bad breath: TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse
What we like
- Freshens breath
- Gentle formula
- Can use cap to measure
Something to note
- Bulkier bottle
NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez uses TheraBreath’s mouthwash because it has a gentle formula that never makes his gums feel like they’re stinging. He also likes that it comes in various mild flavors, all of which leave his breath fresh. The mouthwash kills odor-causing bacteria and gets rid of bad breath for up to 24 hours when you use it every 12 hours after brushing, according to the brand. You can use the bottle’s cap to measure the appropriate serving of mouthwash.
Type: cosmetic | Purpose: reduce bad breath | Active ingredients: none | Flavors: mild mint, rainforest mint, invigorating icy mint
Best for dry mouth: Biotène Dry Mouth Oral Rinse
What we like
- Relieves dry mouth
- Works for up to 4 hours
- Freshens breath
Something to note
- One flavor available
The ingredients in this rinse help moisturize the mouth to relieve dryness and related symptoms like chapped lips, stickiness and bad breath for up to four hours after use, according to the brand. You can use the mouthwash up to five times a day.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: temporarily relieve dry mouth symptoms | Active ingredients: none | Flavors: fresh mint
Best for sensitive teeth: CloSys Silver Healthy Teeth Sensitive Mouth Rinse
What we like
- Non-irritating formula
- Protects against cavities
- Cap attached to bottle
Something to note
- One flavor available
CloSys’ anticavity mouthwash has a non-burning, non-irritating, pH-balanced formula that strengthens tooth enamel and freshens breath, according to the brand. Since the mouthwash has fluoride in it, the brand recommends not eating or drinking for 30 minutes after rinsing.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: reduce bad breath | Active ingredients: sodium fluoride | Flavors: gentle mint
Best for braces: Colgate Phos-Flur Ortho Defense Oral Rinse
What we like
- Supports teeth with braces
- Protects against cavities
- Measurement marker in cap
Something to note
- Made with artificial dyes
White spots sometimes form on teeth when you have braces due to plaque buildup and enamel loss around the brackets and wires. Colgate’s mouthwash helps prevent them by strengthening enamel with fluoride, which also prevents cavities, according to the brand. The bottle’s cap has a measurement marker inside it to help you pour out the appropriate amount of rinse.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: prevent tooth decay | Active ingredients: sodium fluoride | Flavors: mint, gushing grape
Best refillable: Quip Concentrated Mouthwash
What we like
- Elevated mouthwash dispenser
- Recyclable refills
- Refill subscription available
Something to note
- One flavor available
Quip’s mouthwash dispenser looks nicer on your bathroom sink or in your cabinet compared to a typical bottle. It comes in plastic and metal finishes, and its cap acts as a dosage cup. You can either buy recyclable mouthwash concentrate refills as needed or subscribe to a refill plan on Quip’s website. The mouthwash reduces bad breath and helps prevent cavities, according to the brand. Since it’s made with fluoride, Quip recommends not eating or drinking for up to 30 minutes after rinsing.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: prevent tooth decay | Active ingredients: sodium fluoride, cetylpyridinium chloride | Flavors: mint
Best for younger kids: Firefly Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
What we like
- Kid-friendly design
- Pump dispenser
- Included cup
Something to note
- Made with artificial dyes
Once kids are old enough to add mouthwash to their oral care routine, look for options with colorful packaging that have recognizable characters on its label, which can encourage them to use it. You can buy Firefly’s kids mouthwash with Toy Story, Paw Patrol and L.O.L. Surprise themed packaging, plus it comes in fruity flavors that are more appealing to kids than standard mint. The mouthwash has a built-in pump dispenser and an included cup that you store in a compartment on the bottle. It helps prevent cavities and strengthen enamel, according to the brand. Since the mouthwash is made with fluoride, Firefly recommends not eating or drinking for 30 minutes after rinsing.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: prevent tooth decay | Active ingredients: sodium fluoride | Flavors: bubblegum, melon, orange creamsicle, purple raspberry, strawberry
Best for older kids: Act Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
What we like
- Various fruity flavors
- Protects against cavities
- Built-in dosage cup
Something to note
- Made with artificial dyes
Once kids outgrown cartoons on their dental care products, you may want to start buying them a mouthwash like this one instead. It still comes in fruity flavors, but its packaging feels a little more grown up. Act’s mouthwash helps prevent cavities and strengthen enamel, and since it’s made with fluoride, the brand recommends not eating and drinking for 30 minutes after rinsing. The bottle has a built-in dosage cup — you hold the bottle upright, squeeze its center to fill the line on the top and pour it into a cup.
Type: therapeutic | Purpose: prevent tooth decay | Active ingredients: sodium fluoride | Flavors: wild watermelon, bubblegum blowout, groovy grape, pineapple punch
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Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone can add mouthwash to their oral care routine, but it usually benefits people with gum disease, frequent cavities, dry mouth and bad breath most, says Salierno. That’s because mouthwash is made with ingredients that specifically target these issues. People who have braces or dental work like bridges also benefit from mouthwash because it can reach areas that brushing might not, he says.
One important thing to keep in mind: if you’re using mouthwash and have persistent bad breath, it may be a sign of an underlying issue, so talk to your dentist, says Salierno.
Ideally, you should use mouthwash twice a day, says Messina: once in the morning and once at night. You can also use it after meals to freshen breath and wash away food particles.
It’s best to use mouthwash after brushing, but make sure you wait at least 30 minutes before rinsing so the fluoride in your toothpaste has time to work, says Salierno. He recommends flossing first to remove debris, brushing second to clean your teeth and rinsing with mouthwash last to kill bacteria and freshen breath. But in general, don’t get too hung up on what order you do your oral care routine in, says Messina. “The order doesn’t matter nearly as much as actually doing it,” he says.
Whitening mouthwashes are typically made with peroxides, like hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, which can remove stains on teeth and lighten their color. However, because whitening mouthwashes have such a low concentration of peroxides in their formulas, experts say their impact is minimal. If you use them, you’re not likely to see much, if any, improvement in the appearance of your teeth.
Yes, kids over six years old can use mouthwash, says Salierno. Parents need to supervise them while they’re young to make sure they don’t use too much and spit it out after rinsing. Children should use kids’ mouthwashes, which are typically alcohol-free and have milder flavors compared to adults’ mouthwashes, he says.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Chris Salierno is the chief dental office at Tend.
- Dr. Matt Messina is an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and the clinic director of Ohio State’s Upper Arlington Dentistry.
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has covered oral care since 2020, including topics like toothpaste for kids and adults, whitening toothpaste, electric toothbrushes and water flossers. To write this article, I interviewed two dentists about how to shop for mouthwash and rounded up the best options available over-the-counter.
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