BUY: Listerine Total Care – £4.00

Features

Listerine Total Care claims to offer six benefits ranging from gum disease to fresh breath.  Listerine was initially marketed just as a treatment for bad breath however with the increasing use of mouthwash in general within the population, it has become necessary for a mouthwash to offer more than one protective feature. So although Listerine Total Care claims to have 6 benefits, it’s main benefit is in the fight against bacteria in the mouth especially those which are responsible for causing bad breath or halitosis. In this regard it is still the standard that other mouthwashes seem to compete against.

Gum disease…..Listerine is active against gum disease in the form of gingivitis or periodontitis. It primarily works by overall reducing the number of bacteria in your mouth rather than specifically targeting those bacteria against gingivitis or periodontitis.  Although Listerine is very effective against bad breath it should be remembered that you should always go back to the cause of the bad breath and see a dentist if you are unsure as to why you are getting bad breath. Having said that, it does work against bad breath for 2 to 3 hours.

Taste

Listerine always and still has a distinctive strong taste. When you use Listerine for the very first time, one does get a shock how strong its tastes actually is. This is sometimes enough for patients to be put off from ever using it again. However once you have got used it several times, you do get quite used to the strong taste and you can even find it quite refreshing to use. If you feel the taste is still too strong, there is another version of Listerine available which has got a milder taste. If you are considering changing Listerine because you think the taste is too strong, you can always dilute this formulation down by 50% and still retain most of its antibacterial properties. The plus side it is that it will also last twice as long! 

Value for money

Listerine probably sells more bottles of mouthwash than all the other companies all put together and part of this reason is that it is reasonably priced and you do get a good product for your money. 

Overall Rating

BUY: Colgate Plax Soft Mint – £4.82

Features

Colgate plax soft mint mouthwash makes a lot of claims and especially that it helps to reduce the amount of brushing that you will need. This is or appears to be quite a good marketing gimmick. I will explain further. Plaque or bacteria in your mouth are sticky and they do stick to your teeth and  to your fillings and any crowns/caps and even if you wear dentures the plaque sticks onto these as well. This means that the only way to remove plaque is to physically scrub and remove the plaque off yourself with a toothbrush, interdental brushes and dental floss. Colgate plax soft mint contains a chemical which is said to prevent the plaque from sticking on as firmly as it would otherwise. So although in theory it loosens plaque. you should be under no illusion that you still need to brush effectively and thoroughly as you would do otherwise. It definitely is not a shortcut  or an easy option to not brushing your teeth or only brushing your teeth quickly and loosely in the hope that the mouthwash will do the rest of the work, because it just won’t. This mouthwash also claims that it has an additional feature in that it contains fluoride at 225 PPM. Once again this is a slight gimmick because the toothpaste that you will be using will contain much higher levels of fluoride and it is that level of fluoride in toothpaste which will be the most beneficial for your teeth in the long-term.

Taste

The taste of this mouthwash is quite agreeable however what is the point of having a nice taste if the mouthwash isn’t as good as others for its purpose.

 This mouthwash has a mild to moderate minty flavour however it definitely tastes extremely artificial.

Value for money

This mouthwash is made by a premium company and therefore it is on the other end in terms of expense and we are not convinced by the claims that are attached to it.

Overall Rating

Buy: Corsodyl Daily – £3.00 (addon) 

Features

Corsodyl mouthwash contains a chemical called chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine is a clinically proven mouthwash that inhibits plaque and reduces its build-up in your mouth. This is good because plaque is responsible for gum disease including periodontitis and gingivitis. This is why you probably will have been recommended to use this mouthwash if you have bleeding gums bad breath or even aggressive periodontal disease by your dentist. However despite the positive effects of corsodyl there are a number of side effects you should be wary off. Aside from the taste, the worst side effects is the staining on your teeth and under tongue and this also includes any white fillings you will have at the front of the mouth. There is no easy way to get rid of this staining. another unpleasant side effect of corsodyl is the taste alteration in your mouth. This means that after using it, You will experience an alteration of taste for the duration of the day to any foods or liquids. If you are a food lover or a connoisseur then corsodyl mouthwash will cause you considerable problems.

 Taste

Corsodyl mouthwash comes in an original flavour and also a mint flavour. unfortunately both of the flavours are as bad as each other and it can be enough to put you off using it. Having said that its effects are quite effective and therefore the taste should not prevent you from using this to eliminate your gum disease or bad breath or any soreness in your mouth. Corsodyl mouthwash is also extremely effective against mouth ulcers that you may get from time to time. It doesn’t get rid of the old say but it makes it less painful and they also will heal up quickly as well. This is because the pain from an ulcer is primarily caused by the bacteria which cause it to get in fact heard and because corsodyl reduces the bacteria or kills them then they also improves in that particular way. Corsodyl is also useful when you’ve got a sore mouth because of having a tooth out or dental surgery.

Value for money

 Corsodyl mouthwash is quite expensive but that is because it is about the only company that makes it so they do have a monopoly on it however the formulation is effective and he does not need to use a big mouthful or a gulp for it to be effective. Certainly I wouldn’t recommend topping it up to the cap that is provided with the mouthwash but about one-third to a one-quarter of that amount. It is then switched around the mouth for 2 minutes and it does last for a good 12 hours. So taking into account all these other factors, it is considered to be good value for money because of bottle will last an extremely long time.

Overall Rating

BUY: Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief mouthwash – £33.99 ( 6 pack) 

Features

Colgate sensitive pro relief mouthwash claims to be a mouthwash if you have sensitive teeth. Traditionally, the best way to reduce sensitivity in your teeth was to use a sensitive type of toothpaste. A sensitive type of toothpaste is still the best method to reduce teeth sensitivity because if you use a mouthwash its effects will soon become diluted with the continuous flow of saliva in your mouth. It is far more effective to use a sensitive type of toothpaste and then not rinsing your mouth out with water afterwards but just leaving the residue of the toothpaste still in your mouth. This means that you do not use an extra mouthwash with questionable benefits for sensitive teeth.

Taste

 The taste isn’t fantastic however it’s not particularly objectionable either.

Value for money

 It is not really good value for money especially as you can just use a sensitive toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Also don’t forget, that many cases of sensitive teeth should be treated by a dentist such as a leaking filling, tooth decay and gum disease. Using a mouthwash will not remedy any of these problems in your mouth and they will certainly get worse if you do not go and see a dentist to have them treated.

expensive

Overall Rating

BUY: The Breath Co Fresh Breath Oral Rinse – £8.99 

Features

This oral rinse Is alcohol free, suitable for vegetarians, suitable for religious reasons so it is kosher and halal, and finally it is mainly used with natural flavourings and ingredients. It’s active ingredient claims that it is a patented product that releases oxygen. The effectiveness of this oxygen release has not been suitably clinically trialled. It also claims that it reduces bad breath almost immediately as you use it. Like other bad breath mouthwash products, it will just mask the bad breath and not actually get to the root cause of the bad breath which is what you want. A dentist is the best person to get to the root cause of bad breath which you are getting.

Taste

It does have a pleasant taste and it does not linger on afterwards for too long and like other mouthwashes with less nicer tastes.

Value for money

 It is not bad for the value of money but it is not fantastic either.

Overall Rating

BUY: Biotene Dry Mouth Mouthwash – £7.73

Features

This oral rinse Is one of the few products on the market to combat the effects of a dry mouth. Unfortunately there isn’t a magic cure or mouthwash or dental rinse for dry mouth. A dry mouth it’s just a very unpleasant Sensation. Biotin dry mouth wash has been around for a very long time and it is as good as any other of the few products that are for this type of condition. It has quite a neutral taste to it and it feels oily and that’s because it is supposed to provide a moisturizing and lubricant effect in your mouth. Due to the condition of a dry mouth, its effects will certainly not last all day and the first one or two hours is quite effective but after that it’s effectiveness the windows quite rapidly so that you need to keep on using it.

Taste

It  It has a very mild taste and you will hardly notice it in your mouth. However it is it’s physical properties that you will notice because it is oily and moisturising and that is what you will notice.

Value for money

Overall  Overall like other medicated products for dry mouth, it will cost 2 or 3 times the amount that you pay for a normal over-the-counter mouthwash but that is because it is a specialist type of mouthwash. Anybody who does have dry mouth nose how horrible and debilitating it is, so although it does cost on the high-end for a mouthwash in general, it is well worth it if you do suffer from the symptoms of dry mouth.

Overall Rating

BUY: UltraDEX Sensitive Daily Oral Rinse – £7.50 

Features

This oral rinse Claims to have a specially patented formulation and a special product to combat sensitive teeth, bad breath and bacteria in your mouth including a tooth whitening feature. As the saying goes, jack of all trades and master of none. This mouthwash certainly does make a lot of heroic claims such as that it will keep your bad breath away for 12 hours. Unfortunately that cannot be the case and it is always better to address the underlying cause of the bad breath rather than masking it and making the underlying problems such as gum disease even worse such that you end up me losing your teeth. 

Taste

It  It certainly does have a clinically sterile taste to it as if it is like a mouthwash that your dentist May give you.

Value for money

Overall  Overall a small bottle will be about 5 lbs and a large bottle will cost you £10. It certainly therefore is expensive to use on a daily basis and you are better off targeting a particular symptoms that you need to use the mouthwash for and then seeing if there is an alternative. So for example it has a whitening feature, but the best and the only way to whiten your teeth is what your dentist will recommend. If you are going to spend a tenner each time and thinking that your teeth will become pearly white, unfortunately you are going to be very disappointed.

Overall Rating

BUY: Sarakan 300 ml Mouthrinse – £5.60

Features

This little known mouthwash Has been around for many many years. It has always been sold in health food shops because it does not contain any artificial flavourings, animal products, alcohol and it is very suitable for vegetarians. Out of all the naturally occurring mouthwashes, this mouthwash does have a strong scientific basis to it in the form of a natural plant extract called salvadora persica. Salvadora persica has been proven in many studies to combat these specific bacteria responsible for advanced gum disease. As with all mouthwashes, you still need to use it with caution because the first primary treatment for gum disease is by going to your dentist and having the problem diagnosed properly. Once the problem has been correctly diagnosed, then you will receive advice from your dentist as to how to clean your teeth properly at home and also how the dentist can treat the gum disease in the surgery. It is therefore a duel effort for for both the patient and the dentist. As part of the home treatment that the patient will carry out, this certainly does have a beneficial effect on your gums and if if you want to take its effects one step further, there is also a toothpaste off the same name with the same ingredient, salvadora persica.

Taste

It does having unusual taste however it’s quite a pleasant unusual taste. If you are into herbal and alternative remedies, you will  will have absolutely no objection in using this.

Value for money

Overall Value for money is very good and simply because it actually does work for advanced and even early gum disease. It does not have the disadvantage of staining your teeth or having a terrible aftertaste. Finally, you can be assured that it does not contain any artificial chemicals, flavorings and it is perfectly suitable for vegetarians.

Overall Rating

BUY: Oraldene Mouthwash – £5.99 

Features

This medicated mouthwash Is a direct competitor to corsodyl or chlorhexidine mouthwash. It’s main big advantage over corsodyl is that it does not stain your teeth but yet retains its antibacterial properties. Dentists will often recommend oraldene mouthwash to GP’s because of its antiseptic properties in the form of 0.1% Hexetidine. Hexetidine is very similar to the surgical antiseptic that surgeons use in operating theatres.  Hexetidine also does not have any side effects or any resistance to bacteria. It is one of the best mouthwashes to use after having wisdom teeth out, having complex surgery in your mouth or if you have lot of soreness or bruising in your mouth.

Taste

 You would expect to be given a mouthwash like this if you go to hospital or the dentist and they ask you to rinse your mouth out with a medicated mouthwash. the taste is certainly not horrid or objectionable. It also does not linger in your mouth afterwards for a long time and like other mouthwashes available that claim to do the same job. For gum disease it may not be quite as effective as chlorhexidine which has been mentioned above however it does have other distinct advantages that chlorhexidine does not.

Value for money

Overall  It is good value for money when considering what the ingredients are and they’re clinically proven effectiveness against bacteria in your mouth and healing properties

Overall Rating

BUY: Gengigel Mouthrinse – £9.82 

Features

Gengigel Is not a well-known mouthwash amongst patients or the public in general. It is also not readily sold in big stores or chemists. The best place to purchase this is in smaller independent chemists or health food shops. Ginger gel contains a special chemical called hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is implicated in Healing when you cut yourself and at a cellular level. Ginger gel is amazingly effective for ulcers in your mouth. About 20 to 30% of people do suffer from ulcers and a further 5% suffer them really badly or frequently. Sometimes the Old cesare so bad that even speech is difficult and certainly eating becomes very troublesome especially those foods that irritate the ulceration even more. The exact cause of abscess ulcers in your mouth is not Known but it is very unpleasant. There are many products for ulcers in your mouth and the vast majority seem to just numb the ulcer up so then you do not feel the pain. The disadvantage and drawback of this is that its effects do not last very long and the pain soon Returns as before. If you place ginger gel in your mouth for 2 minutes under timed conditions, and then spit it out, you will feel that for the rest of the day the also almost seems to have disappeared. Of course it has not disappeared but it simply is that the pain from it has gone. Ginger gel mouthwash does have a small loyal following and that is because it simply is incredibly effective at reducing ulcers. The other reason why patients may use it, is when they have a dry mouth because it tends to form a almost invisible coating in your mouth. You will not be aware that you have a coating in your mouth, however the coating is definitely there and therefore it will be beneficial in dry mouth circumstances.

Taste

It  Does not have a taste whilst using it. Once you rinse it out you must not rinse your mouth out with water afterwards as he want to return a layer of it in your mouth. It only has a very slight effect on your taste and once you have used this a few times, you will get used to the taste and it won’t really affect taste in eating or drinking normal food. Taste is therefore not an issue and its Original Taste is quite neutral.

Value for money

Overall  It is very effective for ulcers and dry mouth and therefore it must be excellent value for money. A large bottle and fortunately does not contain a huge amount of the mouth wash in but it is a very effective product and in any case you only need to use a small amount of product for it to be effective.

Overall Rating

BUY: Difflam mouthwash – £9.49

A green solution, containing benzydamine hydrochloride 0.15% w/v. 

Features

This medicated mouthwash Is often given by dentists and doctors. You can be giving it on a normal NHS prescription and the cost of it is very similar to what you would pay for a normal prescription. If you normally do not pay for your prescriptions, then you should ask your doctor or dentist to prescribe it for you so that it does not cost you anything. The reason why it is available on the prescription is because it contains Ben’s thiamine hydrochloride. This is analgesic and anti-inflammatory. This means it can stop pain in your mouth and also it reduces swelling and inflammation in addition. It is therefore useful for sore throats, pain after having teeth out, wisdom tooth surgery, dental implants, and having gum surgery or periodontal treatment for gum disease. It does not claim to have any magic properties but it does have the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect due to the benzo diamine hydrochloride.

Taste

It  It is marketed as a green liquid with a pleasant taste. It comes with a clear plastic cup so you can measure the doors out. Like all mouthwashes, you should not pay any particular attention to the cup holder provided has they are usually designed for you to use the maximum amount so then you can take another trip to the drugstore to buy a few more bottles. The best way to gauge how much you need to use any mouthwash, is to start off with the Bare minimum amount and see how that works for you. In many cases that amount will be more than sufficient however you can always increase it if you need to. The green liquid in difflam is not pleasant and it is quite a bitter taste initially and afterwards as well. It doesn’t numb the mouth up totally, but it does work to reduce the pain from ulcers and sore throats. Yeah brilliant  

Value for money

Overall As this is a medicated mouthwash and also available on the NHS prescription, it will be priced at more than your usual off-the-shelf mouthwash but that doesn’t mean it is expensive. It does not work for everyone but for those who it does work on, it is invaluable.

Overall Rating

BUY: Colgate Peroxyl Mouthwash – £7.54 

Features

This oral rinse contains HYDROGEN PEROXIDE 1.5%. The hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen molecules. The oxygen molecules are targeted against those bacteria in your mouth called anaerobic bacteria because these bacteria do not like oxygen. These bacteria survive when there is no oxygen around, therefore oxygen is harmful to these bacteria. These anaerobic bacteria are found plenty full in deep pockets called gum pockets because when you do have gum disease, this is how the gum disease advances.  This mouthwash also claims to loosen debris in your mouth. However you should not really have debris in your mouth because after a meal you should rinse your mouth out thoroughly with water and then brush afterwards including interdental cleaning as recommended. Any debris that may be loosened, will not really tackle debris within periodontal pockets or removal of bacterial plaque. Certainly the oxygen release will have an effect on bacteria in your mouth however these oxygen molecules cannot reach deep down into the periodontal pocketing. Even if the oxygen did reach the deeper areas of your mouth, such as under the gumline, its effects will soon wear off as the mouthwash gets rinsed away  by the saliva.

Taste

It  has a strong bitter taste but fortunately it does not linger for long. It may last for up to half an hour afterwards.

Value for money

Overall  It is fairly expensive compared to other mouthwashes but that is because it is marketed as a very specialised form of mouthwash against gum disease.

Overall Rating