Top 5 Best Kids Mouthwash Review 2023

Dentist Tested and Reviewed | Time to Read: 9 mins

By: Dr. Advocate
Updated: April 12, 2023

Cavities can be a real pain, especially for kids. It’s one of the leading causes of school absences, and cavities in baby teeth can disturb the formation of permanent teeth. Also, if primary teeth are prematurely lost, crowding may ensue, preventing adequate room for erupting permanent teeth.

Fortunately, dental knowledge and expertise have significantly advanced over the years to avoid “sugar bugs” from wreaking havoc on children’s teeth. Developing great oral hygiene habits, including brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and using fluoride mouthwash, can disrupt the formation of cavity-causing bacteria.

Let’s take a closer look at the Top 5 Best Kids Mouthwash from a dentist’s perspective.

Tested and Reviewed

1. Best Overall: TheraBreath for Kids Anticavity Oral Rinse
2. Best Bubble Gum: ACT Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
3. Best Anticavity: Solimo Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
4. Best Alcohol-Free: Tom’s Children’s Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
5. Best Berry Flavor: Listerine Anticavity Kids Smart Rinse

Evaluation Criteria

We highlight each product’s unique, advertised benefits, identify their pros and cons and score each from 1 to 5 based on four categories. The mouthwash with the highest score is crowned the overall champion; however, we’ll also give suggested patient benefits for each product. Prices listed are subject to change and discussed in each review, however they were not considered within the scoring criteria.

• Effectiveness: Does the mouthwash treat the advertised need? How effective were the results?
• Comfort: Are you able to swish for recommended time? Did it sting or burn? How did the mouth feel afterwards?
• Taste: How was the overall taste? Was it tolerable? Did it alter your sense of taste?
• Likeability: Is the product likeable and enjoyable to use? Are you able to use it as directed?

Related Reviews

• Best Kids Toothpaste Review 2023
• Best Kids Electric Toothbrush Review 2023
• Best Electric Toothbrush Review 2023 + PROMO Code
• Best Dental Floss Review 2023

1. TheraBreath for Kids Anticavity Oral Rinse

Best Overall

TheraBreath for Kids Dentist Formulated Anti-Cavity Oral Rinse

$14.99 ($0.47 / Ounce)

Dr. Harold Katz created the TheraBreath formulas in 1993 for his own family. That's why TheraBreath Kids Mouthwash contains no artificial dyes, no parabens, and no alcohol. This anticavity mouthwash is vegan, gluten free, and made with certified organic flavor. We believe your child's mouthwash should only contain what's truly needed and nothing else.

With that in mind, TheraBreath Kid Mouthwash contains active sodium fluoride to help support strong, healthy teeth and reduce the formation of cavities. It's the same sodium fluoride the dentist uses for your child's fluoride treatment. Our alcohol-free formula doesn't burn or irritate and works instantly. 

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05/29/2023 02:32 am GMT

Dentist Review

TheraBreath products are known to be gentle on gums, and this one is no different. The mouthwash was effective at clearing away loose food particles while bathing all surfaces of the teeth. It’s comfortable to swish with no burning, stinging, or altered taste. The certified organic grape flavor was surprisingly sweet and enjoyable; however, lasting fresh breath was minimal. Nevertheless, kids should have no problem using this regularly unless the unique gorilla grape flavor turns them off.

2. ACT Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse

Best Bubble Gum

ACT Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse

$4.48 ($0.27 / Fl Oz)

Kids love it. Cavities don't. ACT Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse is formulated with fluoride to help prevent up to 40% of future cavities. This bubble-gum-flavored mouth rinse motivates kids to rinse and help keep their pearly whites healthy. Just swish for 60 seconds once a day for full protection. The bottle is designed with an easy-squeeze, kid-friendly cup for accurate dosing. Kids love the tastes; you'll love knowing they're using an effective cavity-fighting tool. Pair with ACT Kids Fluoride Toothpaste for a healthy dental care routine.*

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05/29/2023 02:38 am GMT

Dentist Review

ACT Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse effectively eliminated plaque and cleared loose food particles. The bubble gum flavor was moderately intense and provided lasting fresh breath. After rinsing, slight taste alteration and bitterness may be problematic for some children. Bubble gum is the most popular flavor; however, ACT offers pineapple and watermelon. Lastly, this mouthwash features the ADA Accepted approval seal to prevent cavities.

3. Solimo Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse

Best Fluoride

Amazon Brand Solimo Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse

Solimo is an Amazon brand that seeks to improve oral hygiene care. Amazon has done an excellent job of enhancing products while making them more affordable. They offer many oral rinse products, including whitening, anticavity, dry mouth, tartar control, and kids rinse. Although it’s not one of the top oral healthcare companies, they are carving out a space in this industry.

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Dentist Review

Solimo Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse featured exceptional bubble gum flavor that provided lasting fresh breath. However, the flavor may be too intense for some children, and it did have a slight stinging sensation. Also, there was taste alteration after rinsing, along with a generalized dry mouth feeling. We were hoping for a more comfortable mouthwash experience with this Solimo product.

4. Tom’s Children’s Anticavity Fluoride Rinse

Best Alcohol-Free

Tom's of Maine Children's Anticavity Fluoride Rinse Mouthwash

$23.94 ($1.50 / Fl Oz)

Tom's of Maine uses naturally sourced, naturally derived ingredients to create personal care products that work. This natural mouthwash is a fluoride mouthwash trusted by parents, and has a Silly Strawberry flavor that kids will love.

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05/29/2023 02:38 am GMT

Dentist Review

Tom’s developed an excellent strawberry fluoride rinse for kids that’s alcohol-free and made with real strawberry fruit juice. The mouthwash was effective at bathing all surfaces of the teeth and removing loose food particles. The strawberry flavor was mild but slightly tart, leaving an altered taste after rinsing. Children will enjoy this strawberry-flavored rinse because it’s comfortable to use, and we experienced no stinging or burning. Lastly, this anticavity rinse features the ADA Accepted approval seal to prevent tooth decay.

5. Listerine Anticavity Kids Smart Rinse

Best Berry Flavor

Listerine Smart Rinse Kids Alcohol-Free Mouthwash

$31.70 $23.24 ($0.23 / Fl Oz)

Help protect and strengthen your child's teeth with Listerine Smart Rinse Berry Splash Kids Anticavity Mouthwash. For children six years and older, this ADA-accepted children's mouthwash provides oral care for kids by helping strengthen teeth, cleaning the mouth beyond brushing alone, and preventing dental cavities - even in hard-to-reach places.

In a lab study, this alcohol-free mouthwash with sodium fluoride and acidulated phosphate offered two times stronger teeth for better cavity protection with brushing. The kids' oral rinse also freshens breath and tints food particles and debris so kids can see immediate proof in the sink of a cleaner mouth.

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05/29/2023 02:58 am GMT

Dentist Review

Listerine Anticavity Kids Smart Rinse effectively removed food particles and provided lasting fresh breath. The pink lemonade flavor was unique but left our mouths feeling dry and bitter. It was comfortable to use; however, the potent pink lemonade flavor and altered taste sensation may be too much for some children. Lastly, it features the ADA Accepted approval seal to prevent tooth decay.

Overall Champion: TheraBreath for Kids Anticavity Oral Rinse*

TheraBreath for Kids Anticavity Oral Rinse slightly edged Tom’s Children’s Anticavity Fluoride Rinse to secure the top spot. Both products have unique flavors (grape and strawberry, respectively) that are attractive for kids and hopefully aid in patient compliance every night. Also, both rinses are effective at food removal, comfortable to use, and feature minimal aftertaste issues.

In addition, TheraBreath is slightly more enjoyable and gentle on gum tissue, while Tom’s provides longer-lasting fresh breath. Lastly, Tom’s features the coveted ADA Accepted seal of approval for preventing tooth decay. All five products contain sodium fluoride to repair weakened enamel tooth structure and protect it from future acid attacks.

Best Overall

TheraBreath for Kids Dentist Formulated Anti-Cavity Oral Rinse

$14.99 ($0.47 / Ounce)

Dr. Harold Katz created the TheraBreath formulas in 1993 for his own family. That's why TheraBreath Kids Mouthwash contains no artificial dyes, no parabens, and no alcohol. This anticavity mouthwash is vegan, gluten free, and made with certified organic flavor. We believe your child's mouthwash should only contain what's truly needed and nothing else.

With that in mind, TheraBreath Kid Mouthwash contains active sodium fluoride to help support strong, healthy teeth and reduce the formation of cavities. It's the same sodium fluoride the dentist uses for your child's fluoride treatment. Our alcohol-free formula doesn't burn or irritate and works instantly. 

Buy Now

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

05/29/2023 02:32 am GMT

Final Rankings

1. TheraBreath for Kids Anticavity Oral Rinse 19/20
2. Tom’s Children’s Anticavity Fluoride Rinse 18/20
3. ACT Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse 16/20
4. Listerine Anticavity Kids Smart Rinse 16/20
5. Solimo Kids Anticavity Fluoride Rinse 15/20

* My Dental Advocate product reviews are based on individual experience and your results with the products may vary.

The more you know, the more healthy habits you can develop, saving you and your family from avoidable and potentially expensive dental procedures. Talk to your dental professional for more suggestions on improving oral health and check back for more blog posts and relevant information. Please share this site and let us know what else you’d like to know!