The best mouthwash for bad breath is often no mouthwash at all.
Read on to learn why some mouthwashes can worsen bad breath rather than help it.
Q
What’s the best mouthwash for bad breath?
A
Don’t be fooled by upbeat commercials showing people happily swishing mouthwash. Mouthwash alone does not cure bad breath.
There are two main reasons why avoiding mouthwash can be the best choice for controlling bad breath:
- Mouthwash can dry out your mouth and contribute to bad breath.
- Mouthwash cannot replace proper brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping.
Mouthwash can cause bad breath because it dries out the mouth
Many commercial mouthwashes include alcohol, sometimes in concentrations up to 25%, which is higher than typical wine or beer. Alcohols such as ethyl alcohol and acetaldehyde can harm salivary glands.
These compounds have been linked to effects like:
- Cell damage
- Fat accumulation
- Swelling of salivary glands
Over time, damage to salivary glands can reduce saliva production and lead to dry mouth.
Another factor is how mouthwash interacts with toothpaste. Many mouthwashes contain cationic surfactants while common toothpastes contain anionic ingredients. When cations and anions meet, they can neutralize each other. That neutralization can increase dryness of the cheeks and oral tissues and create an environment where bad breath and mouth sores are more likely to develop.
What does dry mouth have to do with bad breath?
Saliva plays a vital role in maintaining a balanced oral microbiome. It keeps pH levels stable and helps control bacterial populations. When saliva is reduced, harmful bacteria can flourish, increasing the risk of bad breath.
Chemical mouthwashes that kill bacteria indiscriminately can also disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria, sometimes allowing odor-causing strains to become dominant.
What mouthwash do I recommend if you need one?
If you have a specific occasion—an interview or a date—and want a brief boost of freshness, an occasional alcohol-free, pH-friendly mouthwash can be acceptable. Daily use of conventional alcohol-based mouthwash is not recommended.
Below are examples of gentler options that focus on pH balance and natural ingredients, which may be less likely to disrupt saliva and the oral microbiome:
- RiseWell Alkalizing Mouthwash
This type of alkaline mouthwash aims to balance oral pH and inhibit growth of odor-causing bacteria. Typical ingredients to look for include xylitol (inhibits harmful bacteria), sodium bicarbonate (gentle cleanser and pH balancer), mint oils (freshen and have mild antimicrobial effects), tea tree oil (antibacterial and antifungal), botanical extracts like cinnamon and thyme (antimicrobial antioxidants), citrus and eucalyptus oils (anti-inflammatory), echinacea (soothing), and natural sweeteners like stevia or erythritol.
- Aesop Mouthwash
An alcohol-free option that uses botanical ingredients to freshen breath without disturbing the mouth’s natural balance. Key components often include clove bud (analgesic), anise (antimicrobial), and spearmint (refreshing and antimicrobial).
- Lumineux by Oral Essentials
This type of mouthwash may contain mineral-rich salts and soothing botanicals. Ingredients to note can include Dead Sea salt (minerals that support remineralization), holy basil oil (adaptogenic benefits that may reduce stress), and aloe vera juice (soothing and healing).
Mouthwash can’t replace brushing, flossing, and scraping
Mouthwash should never be viewed as a substitute for mechanical cleaning. No rinse can remove plaque from tooth surfaces—plaque is a sticky biofilm that must be dislodged by brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping.
When plaque remains on the teeth and gums, a mouthwash cannot reach the bacteria embedded in that film. Chemical rinses may temporarily mask odors, but they do not remove the underlying cause.
Claims equating mouthwash to flossing have been challenged and discredited by dental professionals because they mislead consumers about what mechanical cleaning accomplishes.
Scraping the tongue helps control bad breath
Bad breath is largely caused by volatile sulfur compounds produced by bacteria on the tongue and teeth. Brushing and flossing remove bacteria from tooth surfaces, while tongue scraping removes the bacterial coating on the tongue. Tongue scraping once daily often produces noticeable improvements.
Buy a simple tongue scraper and use it gently every day—you may be surprised by how much residue it removes and how much fresher your breath becomes.
How to get rid of bad breath without mouthwash
To effectively reduce bad breath, consider ditching mouthwash as a primary solution and focus on these daily habits:
- Brush thoroughly after meals using a fluoride or non-fluoride toothpaste you prefer.
- Floss once daily to remove food particles and plaque between teeth.
- Use a tongue scraper daily to remove bacterial buildup from the tongue surface.
- Stay well hydrated so saliva can naturally regulate oral bacteria.
If bad breath persists despite good oral hygiene and hydration, consult your dentist or physician, as persistent halitosis can sometimes indicate a more serious medical issue.
Learn More:Foods to Eat—And Foods to Avoid—to Heal Cavities Naturally