In addition to your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and routine dental exams and cleanings, mouthwash is an integral part of your oral health routine. A quick 30-second rinse can help prevent plaque buildup, gingivitis, cavities, bacteria, and provide cosmetic benefits like better breath and whiter teeth. There are so many types of mouthwash available it can be hard to know which mouth rinse is best for you. That’s why our NewMouth health team has compiled a list of the best choices for each type of mouthwash. All of our picks have the ADA Seal of Acceptance (American Dental Association) and approved by a licensed dentist. Keep reading on for the best mouthwash for bad breath you should buy.

Best Mouthwash For Bad Breath

Crest Pro-Health Multiprotection Rinse

The active ingredient is cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), which is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. This means it fights bad breath, tooth decay, gingivitis, receding gums, and bleeding gums. It’s alcohol-free, so it’s safe for anyone with dry mouth and doesn’t burn your gums. If you’re looking for a simple solution to enhance your overall oral hygiene, this is a great choice.

TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse

A dentist made this mouthwash for his daughter, who suffered from halitosis (bad breath). Sodium chlorite is an oxygenating ingredient that specifically targets and kills bad breath bacteria. There’s no alcohol, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. It’s been clinically proven to freshen breath for up to 24 hours.

ACT Dry Mouth Soothing Mouth Rinse

If you suffer from dry mouth it’s important to choose an alcohol-free mouthwash that contains xylitol. Xylitol increases saliva production, while alcohol can dry out your mouth and make your symptoms worse (it also can cause a burning sensation in your gums and tongue). ACT Dry Mouth checks both of these boxes and can help prevent dry mouth symptoms for hours after rinsing.

Listerine Total Care Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash

A good anticavity mouthwash must have fluoride in it. Listerine Total Care is a great anticavity fluoride mouth rinse that fights tooth decay, strengthens your tooth enamel, and freshens your breath. Be sure to brush your teeth before using (to remove plaque) and don’t eat or drink anything for at least half an hour after using it. This is so that the fluoride can fully coat and soak into your enamel.

CloSYS Ultra Sensitive

This alcohol-free mouthwash is a good choice if you have sensitive teeth. It’s also excellent for eliminating bad breath. It uses chlorine dioxide, an oxidizing agent, to eradicate sulfur-producing bacteria in the mouth.

Crest Pro-Health Advanced with Extra Whitening

This product is alcohol-free. It contains fluoride for fighting cavities and hydrogen peroxide for removing surface stains and whitening teeth.

It also strengthens tooth enamel and kills the germs responsible for causing bad breath. Users find that it can take several months to see whitening results.

StellaLife Vega Oral Care Rinse

Dr. Grace Vershinina started her practice, Beverly Hills BioDental, with a passion for natural dentistry. She recommends StellaLife VEGA Oral Rinse because it’s a chemical-free, homeopathic microbial product. “It freshens breath while killing over 99 percent of strep mutans and half of anaerobic bacterial loads,” said Dr. Vershinina. “At Beverly Hills BioDental we use the rinse before and after dental procedures, but of course it’s great for regular daily hygiene.”

Nature’s Answer Periobrite Alcohol-Free

Nature’s Answer PerioBrite mouthwash is completely alcohol-free and natural. Don’t worry, it still fights off bacteria that causes bad breath with organic herbs, olive leaf and folic acid.

CloSYS Sensitive Mouthwash, Gentle Mint Mouthwash

If you can’t take the burning sensation that’s pretty common with typical mouthwashes, you’ll love this alcohol-free option from CloSYS. The fact that it’s alcohol-free also means that it won’t leave your mouth feeling dry, which can be a big deterrent for some people. It’s also sulfate, triclosan and gluten free.

Colgate Optic White Mouthwash

Colgate Optic White packs a whitening punch with hydrogen peroxide. It’s also alcohol-free and contains Whiteseal technology, which works to seal out future stains. Your teeth will be shining brightly in no time!

Solimo Whitening Mouthwash

Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are active ingredients in cosmetic mouthwash that whiten your teeth and reduce tooth staining. Solimo Whitening mouthwash contains 3.0% hydrogen peroxide and is alcohol-free. It also contains ingredients that fight bad breath and protect your teeth. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest mouthwashes on our list!