Benefits of alcohol-free mouthwash vs an alcohol one
                     Benefits of alcohol-
free mouthwash v/s 
an alcohol one

Mouthwash is an important part of your daily oral care routine. But 
alcohol or alcohol-free mouthwash? If you have been confused about 
which one to buy then read on to find out more!
What we will cover:
Benefits of using a mouthwash 
About alcohol mouthwash
What’s wrong with an alcohol mouthwash
• Solution- alcohol-free mouthwash
Benefits of using a mouthwash
Making mouthwash a regular part of your routine is a great idea. Different mouthwashes 
provide different benefits based on the ingredients they contain so you can buy one based 
on your oral care needs. 
Some of the benefits of using a mouthwash
Strengthens your enamel
Some mouthwashes contain fluoride which is a strengthening agent for your teeth making 
them resistant to cavities. So pick a fluoride one if you are trying to fight cavities and make 
your enamel stronger. 
Whitens your teeth
• Certain products contain hydrogen peroxide or activated charcoal which can give you 
sparkly white teeth. These formulas often contain bleaching agents which are meant to 
whiten
About Alcohol mouthwash
What is in an alcohol mouthwash? The alcohol in Alcohol mouthwashes is 
ethanol(22%). This ethanol is the one you find in perfumes, deodorants, 
sanitizers etc. The role of ethanol here is to kill germs and bacteria in your 
mouth. 
Your regular alcoholic drinks such as beer contain 5-12% alcohol so 22% is 
considered to be high alcohol content. But, it’s important to understand 
that mouthwashes are not meant to be swallowed rather only used for 
rinsing so the alcohol is only meant to kill germs. 
• In addition to alcohol, regular alcohol mouthwashes also contain other 
ingredients such as fluoride, mint, etc, and reach those parts of your 
mouth where your regular toothbrush doesn’t. 
What’s wrong with Alcohol 
mouthwashes?
Alcohol kills bacteria in your mouth so that’s good right? That’s not the 
case though. Alcohol is a very strong ingredient and can kill both good 
and bad bacteria in your mouth.
But, killing too many of these bacteria is also not good as this can cause 
an imbalance leading to bad breath and dry mouth. Alcohol 
mouthwashes can end up creating more issues in your mouth rather 
than just cleaning your mouth. 
• While alcohol kills a lot of bacteria a non-alcohol mouthwash contains 
several ingredients which perform the same function as alcohol 
without the harmful effects of alcohol.
FAQs on non-alcohol based rinse
What are the benefits of an alcohol-free mouthwash?
An alcohol-free mouthwash has several benefits such as increased saliva production, germ-
free mouth, healthier gums all without the harmful effects of an alcohol-based mouthwash. 
How often should I use a mouthwash?
Mouthwash cannot replace your regular brushing and flossing routine. It should only be an 
addition to your usual routine. Using mouthwash twice a day is more than enough. 
Excessive usage is not suggested.
Which mouthwash is best for me?
• Everyone has different oral care needs hence may require a different mouthwash. Based 
on your oral health and dental needs you must read the labels of mouthwash and then 
pick one.