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Mouth Wash

TL;DR

Because of the risks of tooth decay, staining, irritation and possible hypertension you should avoid mouth wash/rinse unless advised to use it by a dental professional and then only for a brief period. Mouth washes/rinses containing alcohol also expose you to the risk of dry mouth, sores and possibly a higher risk of cancer.

There is no evidence mouth wash or mouth rinse improves your gum or teeth health and it may actually make things worse as it typically kills all bacteria in the oral microbiome, both good and bad.

Many mouth washes include acidic stabilizing agents to prolong the shelf life, however these acids can eat away at your tooth enamel making them more susceptible to decay and doing more damage than good 1.

Avoid any washes/rinses containing alcohol as it may cause a dry mouth and lead to sores and there is some limited evidence this has some cancer risk 2.

Always use a mouth wash/rinse containing fluoride.

Ingredients cetylpyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine (CHX) may cause (usually temporary) staining and irritation if used for anything other than a short period (1 or 2 weeks) 3.

Mouth wash/rinse use may increase the risk of hypertension 4.

Frequency

Based on the possible risks, don't use it unless advised to (usually for a short period) - interdental sticks or flossing offer greater benefits at much lower risk. If you are insistent, once a day should suffice.

When

If you are not concerned about any of the possible risks and assuming the benefits you expect are fresh breath and your most frequent contact with others is during working hours, then in the morning is the logical choice.

If you've been advised to use mouthwash (typically a particular type and for a short period) follow whatever instructions you were given.

If you are not using a mouth wash containing fluoride, wait 30mins after brushing (so you don't wash the concentrated fluoride away). If you are, you don't need to wait.

How

  1. When to use Mouthwash in your Oral Care Routine? - 2025-05-06 ↩

  2. The effect of daily usage of Listerine Cool Mint mouthwash on the oropharyngeal microbiome: a substudy of the PReGo trial ↩

  3. Adverse events associated with home use of mouthrinses: a systematic review ↩

  4. Over-the-counter mouthwash use, nitric oxide and hypertension risk ↩