Best Bad Breath Mouthwash (Full Review)

Dentist Tested and Reviewed

Matt Hannan, DDS
Updated: March 25, 2024

Most mouthwashes you find at the store seek to reduce the microbial load in your mouth.

However, other oral rinses treat dry mouth, oral fungus, bad breath, and oral pain.

A dry mouth can lead to bad breath, also known as halitosis, because it allows harmful bacteria to thrive.

As an experienced dentist with years of experience, I’ve tested and evaluated 250+ dental products. I strive to find the best products for achieving excellent oral hygiene, so let’s take a closer look at the Best Bad Breath Mouthwash from a dentist’s perspective.

Buying Guide

1. Best Overall: TheraBreath Dentist Formulated Fresh Breath Oral Rinse
2. Best Flavor: TheraBreath PLUS Maximum Strength Oral Rinse
3. Best Comfort: SmartMouth Dual-Solution Breath Rinse
4. Best Sensitivity: Oxyfresh Lemon Mint Mouthwash
5. Best Antibacterial: Philips Sonicare BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse
6. Best Alcohol-Free: Oral-B Breath Therapy Mouthwash
7. Best Gum Care: Crest Breath Bacteria Blast Mouthwash

Common Causes of Bad Breath

• Dental issues
• Mouth, nose and throat infections
• Dry mouth
• Smoking and tobacco
• Other chronic conditions

Evaluation Criteria

I test each product for 7-14 days, detailing its pros and cons, and rate it from 1 to 5 in four key areas.

• Effectiveness: Does the mouthwash treat the advertised need? How effective were the results?
• Comfort: Were 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 my sense of taste?
• Directions: Were the directions clear and simple to understand? Are they desiring unrealistic expectations?

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1. Best Overall | TheraBreath Dentist Formulated Fresh Breath Oral Rinse

Best Overall

TheraBreath Fresh Breath Dentist Formulated Oral Rinse

$18.00 $15.34

Dr. Harold Katz created TheraBreath to help his daughter overcome her struggle with bad breath.

Since 1994, they’ve been creating oral care products that treat halitosis, gum disease, tooth decay, stained teeth, immune support, tooth sensitivity, and dry mouth.

The original TheraBreath formulation attacks odor-causing bacteria rather than masking it with heavy flavors or powerful odors. TheraBreath Oral Rinse stimulates saliva flow and circulates antibacterial, oxygen-rich bacteria throughout your mouth.

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04/22/2024 10:00 pm GMT

Best for patients with sensitive gums and averse to overpowering flavors.

Dentist Review

Dr. Katz developed a formula that works at reducing bad breath.

Immediately you realize how comfortable it is to swish around. You forget you’re using mouthwash as it seems like you’re swishing with water.

The mild mint flavor is just the right amount to be refreshing but not overpowering.

After multiple days of use, morning breath was eliminated, guaranteed, or your money back. We were pleased with the overall effectiveness of this product.

Cons

The directions state to use one capful for 1 minute followed by another capful for 30 seconds of gargling.

If you continued this regimen twice a day, you would need a new bottle every week.

One option is to use one capful for one-minute swishing and gargling or half a capful for each.

2. Best Flavor | TheraBreath PLUS Maximum Strength Oral Rinse

Best Flavor

TheraBreath Plus Dentist Formulated Maximum Strength Oral Rinse

$27.99 ($0.87 / Fl Oz)

TheraBreath PLUS is an advanced formula that seeks to help people suffering from the most severe cases of halitosis.

Their original formula is fortified with soothing aloe vera and naturally antibacterial green tea, zinc gluconate, and tea tree oil. This is TheraBreath’s most robust bad breath-fighting oral rinse and is also helpful after eating odor-rich foods.

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04/22/2024 11:05 pm GMT

Best for patients with severe halitosis or consume odor rich foods.

Dentist Review

As soon as you begin swishing, you realize this rinse has more kick than TheraBreath’s original oral rinse.

The peppermint flavor is refreshing and more potent than the mild mint flavor. After you spit it out, you experience an icy sensation and a comfortable amount of tissue moistness.

After using it for several days, it effectively eliminated bad breath and morning breath.

Cons

As mentioned before, the peppermint flavor was refreshing; however, it was slightly overpowering and seemed to irritate the gum tissue.

Nevertheless, it eliminated a tingling and burning sensation after spitting it out. Also, we observed an altered sense of taste.

Like the original formula, the recommended 1.5 capfuls morning and night will quickly deplete the bad breath-fighting oral rinse.

3. Best Comfort | SmartMouth Dual-Solution Breath Rinse

Best Comfort

SmartMouth Activated Dual-Solution Breath Rinse

$26.98 ($0.84 / Fl Oz)

SmartMouth The Original Activated Dual-Solution Breath Rinse Mouthwash provides relief from the symptoms and discomfort of dry mouth.

SmartMouth dry mouth refreshes, moisturizes, rehydrates, cleans, and soothes oral irritation while lubricating oral dryness unlike any other mouth rinse out there. Utilizing patented zinc ion technology, SmartMouth delivers fresh breath for 12 hours with a single rinse.

SmartMouth is also a great kid mouthwash for youngsters over the age of six.

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04/23/2024 11:05 pm GMT

Best for patients looking for a refreshing mint flavor and powerful bad breath fighting effectiveness.

Dentist Review

SmartMouth has a refreshing mint flavor that sticks around for many hours after use.

It effectively eliminates bad breath during the day and morning breath when you wake up. It has minimal burning along the inside of the cheeks and great aftertaste with no taste aversion.

We were pleased with the overall comfort of this product.

Cons

One noted concern is a sense of dry mouth sensation after spitting it out.

This doesn’t take away from its effectiveness; however, it’s an uncomfortable feeling for the oral tissue.

Also, the bottle may leak if it’s shaken or tips over, so be aware of this when storing.

4. Best Sensitivity | Oxyfresh Lemon Mint Mouthwash

Fluoride-Free

Premium Oxyfresh Lemon Mint Fresh Breath Mouthwash

$14.95 ($0.93 / Fl Oz)

Oxyfresh was founded in 1984 and developed oral care products for people and pets.

They create “safe, eco-friendly solutions that combine science and natural ingredients.” Also, they have products that treat oral health problems, including bad breath, sensitive teeth, mouth sores, gingivitis, and gum disease.

Oxyfresh oral rinse was awarded first place in the 2020 Family Choice Awards.

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04/22/2024 10:05 pm GMT

Best for patients with bad breath and dry mouth.

Dentist Review

Oxyfresh mouthwash is different from all other products tested.

Its lemon mint flavor is much sweeter than other rinses that are overpowering and uncomfortable to swish.

However, it was comfortable and enjoyable to use.

There was no burning, stinging, or dry mouth aftertaste.

Also, it was effective at eliminating bad breath and leaving your mouth clean and refreshed.

Cons

One minor concern was that the lemon mint aroma reminded us of a chemical cleaning product flavor.

It was difficult to shake this correlation from an otherwise impressive product.

5. Best Antibacterial | Philips Sonicare BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse

Best Antibacterial

Philips Sonicare BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse

BreathRx's dual-action power attacks odor-causing bacteria at the source and neutralizes their awful foul-smelling odors.

It's alcohol-free, sugar-free and contains ZYTEX®, our odor-neutralizing secret weapon in the fight against bad breath. So rinse away and feel confident that you have the freshest breath possible for hours on end. 1 - (16oz bottle) Philips Sonicare Antibacterial Mouth Rinse

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Best for patients that desire plaque reduction and malodor elimination.

Dentist Review

Philips has formulated a great product to combat halitosis and reduce plaque buildup.

It has a strong mint flavor that will knock your socks off. In addition, it provides a lasting and effective refreshing taste after spitting out.

This product pairs nicely when used with Philips Sonicare AirFloss Pro.

Cons

I would have thought this product contained alcohol because of how overpowering and intense the flavor was.

Also, the aftertaste was bitter and left the mouth feeling parched and dry.

We believe this product is best when paired with the AirFloss Pro because of its potency, which may be uncomfortable for daily use.

6. Best Alcohol-Free | Oral-B Breath Therapy Mouthwash

Best Alcohol-Free

Oral-B Breath Therapy Mouthwash

$23.69 $8.99 ($0.56 / Fl Oz)

The Oral-B Special Care Rinse Collection is crafted to meet your unique oral care needs.

Oral-B Breath Therapy Special Care Rinse is scientifically formulated to neutralize bad breath. No added: Alcohol, Artificial Dyes, Parabens, Gluten, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).

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04/23/2024 10:57 pm GMT

Best for patients desiring bad breath relief with mild flavoring.

Dentist Review

Oral-B Breath Therapy Mouthwash is a fantastic product that combines excellent flavor and comfortable relief. Mild mint is perfectly gentle and refreshing.

There’s no burning, stinging, or unique aftertaste. In addition, they developed a great product that will suppress odor-causing bacteria.

This product is almost identical to the TheraBreath original in regards to ingredients, taste, texture, and effectiveness.

Cons

The only concern may be how mild the mint flavor is for patients expecting a more flavorful rinse.

Otherwise, Oral-B exceeded expectations with this product.

7. Best Gum Care | Crest Breath Bacteria Blast Mouthwash

Best Gum Care

Crest Breath Bacteria Blast Mouthwash

$6.99 $4.71 ($0.15 / Fl Oz)

Crest Breath Bacteria Blast mouthwash kills millions of bad breath bacteria and whitens teeth in 7 days*.

Protect against new surface stains and leave breath with lasting freshness. The foaming formula contains 1.5% hydrogen peroxide. *with brushing by removing surface stains.

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04/23/2024 10:50 pm GMT

Best for patients who desire fresh breath with whitening features.

Dentist Review

This multi-care mouthwash proves effective and refreshing.

When you begin swishing, you feel the hydrogen peroxide foaming to kill bacteria and whiten your teeth.

The icy fantastic mint flavor is enjoyable. After spitting it out, there’s no dryness, and your mouth is moist for many hours.

The foaming sensation is a unique sensation.

Cons

Although this rinse has excellent flavor because it has alcohol, it burns and stings sensitive gums and tissue.

As a result, it may be difficult for some individuals to tolerate for the full 60 seconds.

Overall Champion | TheraBreath Dentist Formulated Fresh Breath Oral Rinse*

Best Overall

TheraBreath Fresh Breath Dentist Formulated Oral Rinse

$18.00 $15.34

Dr. Harold Katz created TheraBreath to help his daughter overcome her struggle with bad breath.

Since 1994, they’ve been creating oral care products that treat halitosis, gum disease, tooth decay, stained teeth, immune support, tooth sensitivity, and dry mouth.

The original TheraBreath formulation attacks odor-causing bacteria rather than masking it with heavy flavors or powerful odors. TheraBreath Oral Rinse stimulates saliva flow and circulates antibacterial, oxygen-rich bacteria throughout your mouth.

Buy Now

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

04/22/2024 10:00 pm GMT

Final Thoughts

There was a three-way tie between TheraBreath, Oral-B, and Oxyfresh. All three received high scores because of their effectiveness, non-burning, and refreshing flavor.

Oxyfresh is different from the other two because of its sweet lemon-mint taste. This will be recommended if you find that desirable.

TheraBreath edged out Oral-B because the mint flavor was slightly more pronounced and tasteful. However, you wouldn’t go wrong between these three great products.

Final Rankings

1. TheraBreath Dentist Formulated Fresh Breath Oral Rinse 19/20
2. Oral-B Breath Therapy Mouthwash 19/20
3. Oxyfresh Fresh Breath Lemon Mint Mouthwash 19/20
4. SmartMouth Original Activated Dual-Solution Breath Rinse 17/20
5. Crest Breath Bacteria Blast Mouthwash 17/20
6. TheraBreath PLUS Dentist Formulated Max Strength Oral Rinse 16/20
7. Philips Sonicare BreathRx Antibacterial Mouth Rinse 14/20

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

Need a second opinion? We can help! Learn more. Knowledge is power when cultivating healthy dental habits. The more informed you are, the better positioned you'll be to prevent avoidable and potentially costly dental procedures for you and your family. Watch for future blog posts, where we'll continue sharing important information, product reviews and practical advice!