These Dentist-Approved Mouthwashes Will Zap Bad Breath, Protect Gums, and Prevent Cavities
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These Dentist-Approved Mouthwashes Will Zap Bad Breath, Protect Gums, and Prevent Cavities
Choosing the best mouthwash can be likened to shopping for underwear: It’s a very personal journey that takes lots of trial and error. There are mouthwashes with and without fluoride, for bad breath, and for gum disease. Then there’s the taste and flavor factor. Your go-to will depend on what your mouth (and tastebuds) need. But one thing’s for certain—regardless of the kind, 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.”
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, New Jersey. “Some of these issues include, but are not limited to, gingivitis, gum disease, plaque, and decay.” But how is one to know which is the best? We’re glad you asked.
How we chose the best mouthwashes
We consulted Dr. Harris, Dr. Silverstrom, and Erin Issac, D.M.D. a board-certified pediatric dentist practicing in Pittsburgh, along with customer reviews to narrow down the best mouth rinses for various needs.
Our top picks
Now, to discover your best oral health yet, scroll on and meet your perfect mouthwash match.
Grace Cary - Getty Images - 2/10
1) Restoring Zero Alcohol Fluoride Mouthwash
ACT
amazon.com
$6.54
Dr. Issac 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 a 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 6 month cleanings.”
ACT - 3/10
2) Pro-Health Mouthwash
Crest
walmart.com
$3.97
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.
Crest - 4/10
3) Fresh Breath Oral Rinse
TheraBreath
amazon.com
$15.34
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.”
TheraBreath - 5/10
4) Alkalizing Balancing Mouthwash
RISEWELL
nordstrom.com
$18.00
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.
risewell - 6/10
5) Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening Mouthwash
Crest
amazon.com
$6.97
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!”
Crest - 7/10
6) Total Care Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash
ACT
walmart.com
$6.98
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.”
ACT - 8/10
7) Bubblegum Burst Mouthwash
trysnow.com
$26.87
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.
Frost - 9/10
8) Ready! Tabs
Listerine
amazon.com
$6.20
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.
Listerine - 10/10
9) Natural Mint Mouth Rinse
Klēn
klenproducts.com
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.
klen
