With more than 500 types of bacteria in your mouth, oral health is critical, especially if your gums and teeth are sensitive or prone to cavities. If you’re done trying various remedies to remove the plaque stuck on your teeth, it’s time to step up your game with mouthwash.
Mouthwash is a great oral care addition that kills germs and dissolves the plaque buildup on your teeth. It’s excellent for freshening up your mouth, especially after meals or before bedtime. The liquid also contains antibacterial ingredients, preventing oral diseases and ridding your mouth of bad-breath-inducing bacteria.
With so many mouthwash brands out there, choosing the right one can sometimes be confusing. To help you pick one that effectively cleans your mouth and leaves a soothing aftertaste, check out this list of the top mouthwashes of 2025.
Boka Travel Size Mouthwash Tablets are your new go-to for freshening your breath any time, any place! These revolutionary tablets are an innovative, eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic bottles of mouthwash and provide a minty fresh flavor and invigorating tingle that will make your mouth feel instantly refreshed. They contain no fluoride and instead contain hydroxyapatite, the main component for teeth enamel. As a bonus, this product’s contemporary formula comes with probiotic powder to provide relief to irritated gums and aid in mineralizing teeth.
With these travel mouthwash tablets, freshening your breath has never been easier. In just three steps, you can enjoy a clean mouth and fresh breath: simply chew, swish, spit, and then grin from ear to ear. Because of its eco-friendliness, convenience, and ingenious ingredients, this mouthwash alternative has earned our vote as the best choice overall on this list.
The Dr. Brite Natural Whitening Mouthwash is a breath of fresh air for oral care routines. Crafted with a commitment to purity and effectiveness, this mouthwash can elevate your dental hygiene game in a natural way. What sets this product apart is its dedication to harnessing the strength of natural ingredients. Some of these ingredients include organic aloe vera and activated charcoal.
Together, the ingredients in this mouthwash offer a safer and more holistic approach to oral health. Thanks to this mouthwash, you don’t need to consume harsh chemicals if you want to achieve a radiant and healthy smile. Plus, with its gentle yet effective formula, this product strives to tackle bad breath, promote gum health, and whiten teeth naturally. When you regularly use this product, you can expect fewer surface stains while brightening your smile without artificial whiteners.
Are you tired of dull and yellowing or stained teeth? Then you’ll love Lumineux’s whitening mouthwash, which will brighten your teeth while providing refreshing and effective cleaning. It’s made of non-toxic, natural ingredients to protect enamel and work with your body. In fact, Lumineux is the only oral care company whose products are certified non-toxic and microbiome-safe.
We appreciate the fact that Lumineux uses essential oils instead of peroxide to break up stains and yellowing. This helps the mouthwash taste better and even makes it feel a little more luxurious. Because of the gentler ingredients, it’s a great choice for those with sensitive teeth.
Next up, we have the Listerine mouthwash. This economical mouthwash will surprise you with its strength. It’s highly effective, providing protection from the germs that cause bad breath and plaque to keep your breath minty-fresh throughout the day.
What makes this mouthwash stand out from its counterparts is that it can help reduce gum inflammation and redness to promote the health of your teeth. With just a few uses, teeth and gums feel healthier and cleaner. Adding this mouthwash to your oral care routine is a great way to help reduce plaque buildup.
Another straightforward whitening mouthwash is this option from Crest. It’s a budget-friendly pick with a gentle mint flavor, and is alcohol-free, which we found prevents burning during use. Not only does it help whiten teeth, it also features fluoride to help protect your teeth from decay.
What’s interesting about this option is that it foams up a bit, which is helpful in feeling which parts of your mouth it’s reached for maximum whitening and effective coverage.
If you’re a fan of vegan and cruelty-free products, you’ll love this mouthwash by Hello, which is made of sustainable and natural ingredients. With coconut oil and activated charcoal, this mouthwash works to whiten teeth and keep your mouth healthy without any extra additives.
This fluoride- and alcohol-free mouthwash has a slightly sweet flavor, which combined with its light mintiness makes it easier to convince kids to use it (if its cool black color doesn’t convince them first). Plus, you get three bottles in each package, making it a great option for families.
The right mouthwash will help minimize bad breath and strengthen your teeth and gums by cleaning them properly. But how can you find the best one for you? It’s important to do your research on different mouthwashes to help you know what to look for, but if you’re still confused, don’t panic. Check out the tips below to find out what you need to consider when picking a mouthwash.
You should thoroughly evaluate the following features before purchasing a mouthwash.
Many of the most highly recommended mouthwashes contain fluoride as it strengthens teeth and prevents tooth decay. But be careful, as most fluoride-containing mouthwashes also contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which has been linked to cancer and other health problems.
Another active ingredient option that kills harmful bacteria is chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) or triclosan. When used in mouthwashes, these chemicals act as anti-bacterial agents, helping to reduce plaque build-up and control bad breath.
Choosing a fragrant and flavorful mouthwash is crucial as it will increase your confidence by eliminating your bad breath. While mouthwashes come in various flavors, the most popular one is mint. This refreshing flavor is the strongest, making it long-lasting and giving you pleasant breath all day.
Mouthwashes come in various forms, such as liquid or gel varieties. Liquid mouthwashes are generally easier to apply and rinse off. Gel mouthwashes are thicker and usually contain alcohol, making your mouth dry. Both types offer similar benefits, although gels are better at keeping teeth fresh longer.
A good mouthwash needs to be effective. For proof that mouthwash has undergone efficacy testing, look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the label. It will help you achieve your goal faster than non-tested mouthwashes.
Mouthwashes come in several varieties, each designed to target a specific issue. Here we’ve listed out a few that might stand out for you.
If your primary worry is your mouth’s foul smell, you should look for antiseptic mouthwashes. These options are designed to kill plaque and germs that lead to bad breath.
A mouthwash that contains alcohol can increase the dryness in your mouth. Hence, using an alcohol-free mouthwash made to give oral comfort for several hours at a time is your best choice.
Besides speeding up tooth decay, plaque buildup can contribute to other oral issues. Choose a mouthwash with fluoride or other active antibacterial agents to eliminate this oral hygiene antagonist. It will also help treat other diseases like bleeding gums and gingivitis.
Having sensitive teeth can be pretty annoying! Always choose mouthwashes with compounds like calcium oxalate and hydroxyapatite, which help to desensitize and remineralize teeth. Potassium nitrate is another practical component you should look for in a mouthwash since it relaxes the nerves in your teeth.
While it is true that mouthwash and toothpaste are both important oral care products, both serve entirely different purposes. Toothpaste is intended primarily for cleaning and protecting your teeth, while mouthwash is used in conjunction with toothpaste to extend the effectiveness of tooth brushing and can be helpful for both tooth and gum health.
Mouthwashes and toothpastes often have different concentrations of fluoride and other ingredients, so it’s important to evaluate the contents of both, as well as any oral care concerns, to ensure you’re getting the best oral health benefits.
There are two main types of mouthwashes: alcohol-based and non-alcohol-based. Alcohol-based mouthwashes are usually preferred because they provide better cleaning power. Non-alcoholic mouthwashes are less effective at removing stains from teeth and other surfaces, though they are a better choice for people with dry mouths.
Children below the age of six should not use mouthwash at all, as swallowing the agent can have harmful effects. Children above six who are prone to choking should be supervised while using a mouthwash.
No, it is recommended not to rinse your mouth after using mouthwash as it contains ingredients like fluoride, which take time to work. Rinsing your mouth with water will only eliminate beneficial ingredients, decreasing the cleaning agent’s potency.
You should use about 20 milliliters of mouthwash, equivalent to around four small teaspoons or 2/3 of an ounce of liquid. Most mouthwash companies advise using mouthwash twice a day after cleaning your teeth.
For daily use, you should use your mouthwash after brushing your teeth and flossing. Gargle and swish it around your mouth for about 30 seconds, then spit it out, and do not rinse your mouth with water after using it.