.png)
The best mouthwash depends on what you need it to do. If you've had a lot of cavities or fillings, choose an alcohol-free fluoride rinse. For fresh breath, pick one that's honest about doing just that. For dry mouth, use a rinse made for it.
One thing no mouthwash will do is whiten your teeth, whatever the label says. Here's how seven popular rinses rate.
ACT Alcohol Free Anticavity Fluoride Rinse. This is one we recommend to a lot of our patients. If you've had a history of cavities or a lot of fillings, you want fluoride in your mouthwash to help prevent new ones, and ACT delivers it without alcohol.
TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse. A good mouthwash for your breath, and it earns its rating partly by being honest. It doesn't promise to whiten your teeth, because no mouthwash can.
CloSYS. An alcohol-free rinse with antibacterial properties that leaves your breath fresh. It doesn't contain fluoride, which keeps it below the top two. If you don't like mint or flavoring, you can buy it unflavored and add the flavor yourself, or skip it entirely.
Biotène Dry Mouth Oral Rinse. A good choice if you have dry mouth, since it's specifically made for that. If you don't, it can leave a slight film on your teeth, so it isn't one to use just because it's on the shelf.
hello mouthwash. It won't hurt anything, it's alcohol-free and it leaves a nice fresh feeling. Beyond that, it's just kind of meh.
Colgate Total Gum Health. Colgate markets this rinse for gum health. Dr. Lawnin's view is that a rinse won't stop gum disease on its own, which is why it rates low here. Brushing, cleaning between your teeth and regular professional cleanings do that work.
Listerine Original. Plenty of people like the burning sensation, and that tingle comes from the alcohol. Listerine presents the tingle as a good sign. Dr. Lawnin disagrees, and it rates lowest of the seven.
An alcohol-free fluoride rinse like ACT Anticavity. If you've had a history of cavities or many fillings, the fluoride helps prevent new ones.
No. No mouthwash is going to whiten your teeth, even if it says "whitening" on the bottle. Ask us about whitening options instead.
Every rinse Dr. Lawnin rates well here is alcohol-free. The burn in alcohol-based rinses like Listerine Original comes from the alcohol, and he doesn't see that tingle as a good thing.
Only if you have dry mouth. Biotène is made for it, but without dry mouth it can leave a film on your teeth.
Bring your current mouthwash up at your next cleaning. We'll tell you whether it fits your cavity history, your gums and how dry your mouth runs, so you're paying for a rinse that does something for you.
Whether you're looking to enhance your smile or simply maintain lifelong oral health, we’re here to guide you with expert care and honest conversations.
Clear, honest answers to the dental questions you’ve been wondering about, because understanding your care shouldn’t be complicated.
