The Best Natural Mouthwash (15+ Products Ranked on Ingredients)

best natural mouthwash
6 min reading time

As soon as we’re old enough to hold a toothbrush in our hands, our caretakers tell us about the importance of good oral hygiene. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash are must-have habits to maintain those pearly whites and keep the bad breath away.

Mouthwash is a product that many people use every day without thinking much about the ingredients. The truth is, unless you’re using natural mouthwashes, there’s a good chance that you’re using one that contains ingredients that you should avoid.

The Microbiome of the Mouth

The mouth contains many good bacteria, which is essential for oral health. These bacteria help break down food, fight off harmful bacteria and plaque, and keep the mouth healthy.

When you use a conventional mouthwash that contains harsh chemicals, you’re not just killing the harmful bacteria – you’re also killing the good bacteria. This can lead to tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease.

The chemicals in mouthwash can restrict your salivary glands, which impacts your mouth’s microbiome. The chemical ingredients may also cause damage to the cells and membranes of the tissues inside of your mouth, which can lead to oral health problems.

Fluoride vs. No Fluoride in Mouthwash

Much like with toothpaste, fluoride in mouthwash is a hotly-debated topic. Some people believe that fluoride is beneficial for oral health, while others think that it’s harmful and should be avoided at all costs.

It’s widely accepted amongst the medical community that topical fluoride helps fight cavities. If rinsing your mouth correctly after use, you should be ingesting very trace amounts of the chemical.

At Better Goods, we leave the decision of whether or not to use fluoride-containing products. We looked at natural mouthwashes that do and don’t contain fluoride in our product ratings.

However, if you’re using a toothpaste that contains fluoride, following it up with a fluoride-based mouthwash is probably not necessary.

Alcohol in Mouthwash

Many conventional mouthwashes contain alcohol. You know the burning sensation you get when you use mouthwash? That’s from the alcohol.

Alcohol is a harsh chemical that can cause dry mouth, tooth decay, and gum disease. Several studies have also linked the use of alcohol-based mouthwash with oral cancer.

Ingredients to Avoid

There are a few ingredients that you should avoid if you’re looking for a more natural mouthwash. These include:

Alcohol – See the reasons listed above.

Sodium lauryl sulfate: a harsh chemical that is used in many detergents and cleaning products. It can irritate the skin, eyes, and mouth.

Triclosan: This is an antibacterial agent that has been linked to hormone disruption and cancer.

Saccharin: an artificial sweetener that has been linked to cancer.

Benzalkonium chloride: A chemical that is used as a disinfectant and preservative. It can cause irritation and numbness in your mouth.

Artificial colors: These chemicals are unnecessary to maintain oral health, and links have been made between them and various health problems.

Fragrances: Many fragrances contain harmful chemicals that can irritate the mouth.

Parabens: Preservatives and antimicrobial agents that are linked to cancer.

Polysorbate 20 and 80: Can be contaminated with potential toxins.

A Note On Polysorbates

Out of 12 of the natural mouthwashes we looked at, 6 of them contained polysorbate 20 or 80. The problem with these ingredients is that they can contain 1,4 dioxane, a byproduct of the manufacturing process. It’s unclear whether or not polysorbate products are contaminated with 1,4 dioxane because this information is not disclosed to the public.

Because this ingredient is controversial, we cannot recommend any mouthwashes that contain polysorbates.

What To Look For In a Natural Mouthwash?

The mouthwash you use should be as close to natural as possible. You’ll also want to look for mouthwashes that don’t contain alcohol, fluoride, or artificial colors. And avoid mouthwashes with fragrances, as these often contain harmful chemicals.

Some natural ingredients to look for include:

  • Aloe Vera: a soothing plant that has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
  • Xylitol: a natural sweetener that has been shown to reduce cavity-causing bacteria.
  • Tea Tree Oil: an essential oil with antibacterial properties.
  • Peppermint and Spearmint: refreshing oils that can help fight bad breath and maintain oral health.
  • Stevia: a natural sweetener that is calorie and sugar-free.

Even If a Mouthwash is Natural, You Shouldn’t Swallow It

Even though a mouthwash might contain 100% natural ingredients, it’s not safe to swallow it. That’s because the chemicals in mouthwash are designed to kill bacteria and other germs, so they might be harmful when ingested. Many mouthwashes we reviewed contain essential oils and other ingredients not meant for consumption.

It’s important to rinse well after using a mouthwash to ensure all chemicals are washed away. Also, make sure you don’t use a homemade mouthwash for more than three days in a row, and don’t swallow it.

Alternatives to Conventional Mouthwashes

There are plenty of natural mouthwashes available on the market if you’d prefer not to make your own from scratch. Here are a few brands that use safe and natural ingredients.

Our Methodology

We looked at social media, popular online shops, and reviews across the review 15+ of the most popular clean and natural mouthwashes available. They’re rated on this scale:

Best – These products are the best of the best. They contain all-clean ingredients, are non-toxic and are often the best choice for our environment.

Good – These products are typically quite good, but don’t go above and beyond like our best choices.

Iffy – These products are typically okay, but have some issues that make us unable to give them a “Good” rating. Often times they contain ingredients that are questionable.

Bad – These products typically have toxic ingredients or issues that make them dangerous or unsuitable to use. These products should typically be avoided.

Best

Of the 15+ mouthwashes we looked at, these were the best of the best. Any of these are a safe and solid choice for a good, natural mouthwash.

Rating: Best

Tom's of Maine

Natural Wicked Fresh Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Natural Wicked Fresh Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Rating: Best
Price: $5.29 ($0.33 per oz)

The flavor of this mouthwash is made from mint (and other) essential oils, and is sweetened with xylitol, a natural sweetener. It also comes in at an affordable price. All things considered, this is one of the best mouthwashes we reviewed.

Ingredients

Rating: Best

Essential Oxygen

BR Certified Organic Brushing Rinse
BR Certified Organic Brushing Rinse
Rating: Best
Price: $12.38 ($0.77 per oz)

Made from 100% organic ingredients (besides the water and hydrogen peroxide), this is an excellent mouthwash that comes highly recommended for its clean ingredients.

Ingredients

Rating: Best

Auromere

Ayurvedic Mouthwash
Ayurvedic Mouthwash
Rating: Best
Price: $14.50 ($0.91 per oz)

This mouthwash has a great, clean list of ingredients and none of them stand out as being one to avoid. For these reasons, this mouthwash gets a top ranking.

Ingredients

Iffy

More than half the natural mouthwashes we looked at contained ingredients we don’t approve of. While the risk of using these natural mouthwashes may be small, we believe that we can’t recommend these since there are better alternatives available.

Rating: Iffy

Hello

Naturally Fresh Antiseptic Mouthwash
Naturally Fresh Antiseptic Mouthwash
Rating: Iffy
Price: $5.99 ($0.37 per oz)

This mouthwash contains polysorbate 80. While this is a common ingredient in natural mouthwashes, it’s controversial and for this reason, we cannot recommend it over mouthwashes that don’t have this ingredient.

Active Ingredients

  • Menthol

Ingredients

Rating: Iffy

JASON

Healthy Mouth Tartar Control Cinnamon Clove Fresh Breath Mouthwash
Healthy Mouth Tartar Control Cinnamon Clove Fresh Breath Mouthwash
Rating: Iffy
Price: $8.49 ($0.53 per oz)

This mouthwash contains polysorbate 20. While this is a common ingredient in natural mouthwashes, it’s controversial and for this reason, we cannot recommend it over mouthwashes that don’t have this ingredient.

Ingredients

Rating: Iffy

Desert Essence

Natural Neem Mouthwash
Natural Neem Mouthwash
Rating: Iffy
Price: $8.49 ($0.53 per oz)

This mouthwash contains polysorbate 80. While this is a common ingredient in natural mouthwashes, it’s controversial and for this reason, we cannot recommend it over mouthwashes that don’t have this ingredient.

Ingredients

Rating: Iffy

ECO DENT

Premium Oral Care Mouthwash
Premium Oral Care Mouthwash
Rating: Iffy
Price: $10.95 ($1.37 per oz)

This mouthwash contains polysorbate 20. While this is a common ingredient in natural mouthwashes, it’s controversial and for this reason, we cannot recommend it over mouthwashes that don’t have this ingredient.

Ingredients

Rating: Iffy

The Natural Dentist

Healthy Gums Antigingivitis Rinse
Healthy Gums Antigingivitis Rinse
Rating: Iffy
Price: $11 ($0.65 per oz)

This mouthwash contains polysorbate 80. While this is a common ingredient in natural mouthwashes, it’s controversial and for this reason, we cannot recommend it over mouthwashes that don’t have this ingredient.

Ingredients

Rating: Iffy

Aesop

Mouthwash
Mouthwash
Rating: Iffy
Price: $25 ($1.48 per oz)

This mouthwash contains PEG-40 hydogenated castor oil. The problem with PEG-40 is similar to that of polysorbates in thatit can contain 1,4 dioxane, a potentially carcinogenic byproduct of the manufacturing process. However, because manufacturers are not required to disclose if their products contain this chemical or not, we were unable to determine whether or not these mouthwashes are contaminated.

Ingredients

Rating: Iffy

TheraBreath

Fresh Breath Dentist Formulated 24-Hour Oral Rinse
Fresh Breath Dentist Formulated 24-Hour Oral Rinse
Rating: Iffy
Price: $9.95 ($0.62 per oz)

This mouthwash contains PEG-40 hydogenated castor oil. The problem with PEG-40 is similar to that of polysorbates in thatit can contain 1,4 dioxane, a potentially carcinogenic byproduct of the manufacturing process. However, because manufacturers are not required to disclose if their products contain this chemical or not, we were unable to determine whether or not these mouthwashes are contaminated.

Ingredients

Rating: Iffy

CloSYS

Sensitive Antimicrobial Mouthwash
Sensitive Antimicrobial Mouthwash
Rating: Iffy
Price: $12.99 ($0.41 per oz)

There’s nothing particularly natural or clean about this mouthwash. The active ingredient is chlorine—the same chlorine found in tap water. Sucralose is an artificial sweetener.

Ingredients

Conclusion

Out of 15+ natural mouthwashes we looked at, only three of them made the cut. They are as follows:

These three are a safe choice for a good, reliable and natural mouthwash.

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