10 Alcohol-Free Mouthwashes for Sensitive Teeth in 2024 - Won’t Cause Stinging or Burning

The 10 Best Mouthwashes in the World – Alcohol-Free, Tasty and Effective

When looking for a mouthwash for sensitive teeth, consider an advanced multi-protection mouthwash with an alcohol-free formula.

The best mouthwash with an alcohol-free formula that won't burn or irritate and helps freshen your breath.

In addition to freshening breath, the benefits of the best brands of mouthwash may include: promoting healthy gums, strengthening tooth enamel, preventing cavities, cleaning the entire mouth, preventing bad breath, reducing dry mouth, whitening teeth, and more.

Here is a ranking of the 10 most popular mouthwashes reviewed:

#1. TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse - Mild Mint

View On Amazon $16

View On Target $8

View On Walgreens $10

There's a reason TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse is trending on TikTok—It has powerful breath freshening properties.

This is all thanks to its dental formula and sodium hydroxide mixture.

Sodium hydroxide helps maintain the pH balance in your mouth and eliminates some of the acid.

Additionally, peppermint oil is very effective in naturally fighting bad breath and killing bacteria, helping to control plaque and gingivitis.

It’s alcohol-free, so it won’t cause any burning sensation, and it doesn’t contain allergens like benzalkonium chloride. 

We also like that the mint flavor is mild enough to eliminate bad breath without leaving a strong aftertaste.

The company was founded by a dentist, and TheraBreath formulas carry the ADA seal of approval, supporting their efficacy and quality. 

TheraBreath is specially formulated with active ingredients like menthol for more effective long-term bad breath control. Additionally, TheraBreath claims it can fight bad breath for up to 24 hours.

The mouthwash has over 6,000 reviews at Walmart and maintains a 4.7-star rating. "TheraBreathe I love the flavor and refreshing feel," one shopper wrote. "Leaving a fresh and clean feeling in my boska hygiene, this is the best alcohol-free product that I recommend and invite you to try".

#2. Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse

View On Amazon $11

View On Walmart $25

View On Walgreens $9

People who have dry mouth—whether from natural causes or due to things like taking medications that cause dry mouth or an autoimmune disease—produce less saliva, which can lead to more cavities.

When your mouth is dry, bacteria are more likely to attach to your teeth and form bacterial colonies that can cause cavities or gum problems.

In this case, we recommend Biotene Oral Rinse as it contains glycerin, an oral moisturizer that quickly soothes and lubricates the mouth for up to four hours.

Because of the glycerin, Biotene has a nice mouthfeel that leaves your mouth feeling minty and fresh, rather than tasting bad like many other mouthwashes designed to address this issue.

Biotene also lacks many of the chemicals commonly found in mouthwashes that can occasionally cause irritation, including alcohol, which can also cause dryness, so it won't be helpful for people with dry mouths.

Biotene or any mouthwash that moisturizes the mouth should also be left on the teeth for as long as possible without dilution for maximum effect.

#3. Colgate Total 12HR Pro-Shield Mouthwash

View On Amazon $13

View On Walmart $4.62

Bad breath, the number one reason why people use mouthwash, is caused by odor-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Colgate Total contains cetylpyridinium chloride, an antibacterial agent that kills bacteria.

What's more, the protection lasts for 12 hours, so it remains effective even after eating or drinking.

Plus, it's alcohol-free, so its bright mint flavor freshens your mouth without burning or stinging.

#4. ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash, Mint Flavor

View On Walmart $4.33

If you're looking for a mouthwash that's less expensive than our top pick, we recommend this drugstore pick to help fight cavities.

It does not contain any alcohol, so it is less likely to cause dehydration in the mouth, which can lead to tooth decay.

This ACT mouthwash contains the maximum concentration of sodium fluoride and can be rinsed without a prescription.

Sodium fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay. The toothpaste is recommended for use once a day after brushing and is available in mint, arctic blast and cinnamon flavors.

Plus, with ACT® Anti-Cavity Mouthwash, you get a triple-action formula that prevents cavities, strengthens teeth, and freshens breath. Because it also contains active ingredients such as menthol.

We love the sheer formula without chemical coloring dyes. This mouthwash is safe and has been shown to help prevent cavities.

And because it’s reasonably priced, it’s a great budget option for your daily oral health.

#5. ACT Restoring Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash, Cool Mint

View On Amazon $7

View On Target $7

View On Walmart $8

ACT is the #1 dentist-recommended enamel strengthening brand. The main difference between ACT Anticavity and ACT Restoring is the concentration of anti-moth fluoride: ACT Anticavity contains 0.05% sodium fluoride; ACT Restoring contains 0.02% sodium fluoride.

For daily use, some people may only need to use ACT Recovery Mouthwash.

Many mouthwashes don't actually prevent cavities, only proper brushing and a healthy diet can do that. But using a fluoride mouthwash can help remineralize your teeth and strengthen their enamel, making them more resistant to the bacteria and acids that cause cavities and other problems.

Most people get enough fluoride from drinking water and toothpaste. But if you have dry mouth or frequent cavities, using a fluoride mouthwash can help.

We like ACT Restorative Mouthwash, a fluoride mouthwash that helps strengthen and remineralize teeth, reducing the chance of cavities.

It also contains no alcohol, which not only causes burns but can further dry out your mouth and exacerbate cavities.

It has a nice minty flavor without being overpowering, and users noticed significant improvement in cavities after six months of use.

This mouthwash has a refreshing mint flavor and is affordable.

Please note: ACT Restorative Mouthwash comes in two flavors. Mint Burst contains no alcohol; Cooling Mint contains 11% alcohol. That’s why we recommend people with sensitive teeth choose the alcohol-free Mint Burst.

#6. Listerine Total Care Zero Alcohol Anticavity Mouthwash

View On Walmart $8.98

Listerine Total Care uses the brand's essential oil blend, including eucalyptol and menthol, both of which act as antifungal ingredients to limit bacterial growth; Listerine's essential oil blend was the subject of a study in the Saudi Dental Journal, the study showed that the formula was effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis when used as part of regular dental treatment.

This mouthwash is popular mainly due to several ingredients that dentists highlight: the active ingredient sodium fluoride fights cavities, and menthol, eucalyptol and thymol have antibacterial properties. The ADA says this mouthwash "is safe and has been shown to help prevent tooth decay."

And the brand notes that this fluoride-enriched, alcohol-free mouthwash packs six mouthwash benefits in one bottle.

Regardless, users can attest: essential oils, used together with fluoride, can prevent plaque, especially above the gum line. This is because anti-plaque mouthwash can help reduce gingivitis by preventing plaque from colonizing and maturing.

Relative to other brands, Listerine has a strong mint flavor, which may be pungent to some people. It might appeal more to people who like mint flavor.

#7. LISTERINE® Zero Alcohol Mouthwash COOL MINT® for Bad Breath

View On Walmart $6.98

If you've ever used mouthwash before, chances are it was Listerine, as it's been around since 1914. This updated formula of the classic antibacterial mouthwash is alcohol-free and even more comfortable to use.

Listerine Cooling Mint Antibacterial Mouthwash contains the anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis ingredients cineole, menthol, methyl salicylate and thymol.

Endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA), this antibacterial mouthwash for bad breath is clinically proven to reduce plaque by 52% and gingivitis by 21% compared to brushing and flossing alone.

Add this refreshing, mint-flavored mouthwash to your morning and night oral hygiene routine for 30 seconds to get 24 hours of germ protection against the bacteria that cause bad breath, plaque and gingivitis.

The original formula contains alcohol, which should not be added to regular mouthwash as it can dry out the mouth area and create a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

We love this rebirth—the alcohol-free version of Cool Mint offers a refreshing mint flavor that helps reduce plaque buildup and freshens breath while leaving our mouths feeling clean and tidy.

FDA-approved ingredients and a formula that won't burn your mouth make it a solid upgrade from what you're probably used to.

#8. CloSYS Sensitive Mouthwash, Gentle Mint

View On Amazon $12

View On Walgreens $15

View On Walmart $12

If you have a sensitive mouth, you can use CloSYS Sensitive Mouthwash, which has a mild mint flavor that won't burn or irritate.

It's free of some of the ingredients commonly found in mouthwashes, including alcohol, triclosan, and sulfates, but still carries the ADA seal of approval.

It contains chlorine dioxide, which kills bacteria and oxidizes volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath.

Chlorine dioxide is a disinfectant that is safe in small doses but may have a slight chemical smell. However, the smell is not offensive, nor does it show in the taste.

CloSYS Sensitive Mouthwash has a mild mint flavor that leaves your mouth feeling fresh, and is also available in an unscented version.

#9. Crest Pro-Health Advanced Multi-Protection Mouthwash

View On Walmart $6.97

I have been using Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash for a while now and I am very happy with the results. My teeth and gums feel clean and fresh, and the mint flavor is refreshing without being overpowering. I'm also thankful that it's alcohol-free, so there's no burning or stinging.

While some users may prefer an alcohol-based mouthwash because of its stronger antibacterial properties, I found that Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash still does an excellent job of killing bad breath bacteria and preventing cavities.

One potential drawback to Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash is that some people may not like the taste. While I personally find it pleasant, some users report that it has a slightly medicinal aftertaste.

Additionally, it may be more expensive than other mouthwashes on the market, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious buyers.

If you're looking for an alcohol-free mouthwash that can help prevent cavities and kill bad breath bacteria while freshening your breath, Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash is a great choice.

#10. Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening Mouthwash

View On Walmart $7.32

This mouthwash has all the multi-tasking benefits of a regular Pro-Health formula (kills bacteria, removes plaque, fights cavities, removes stains, reduces gum disease and prevents bad breath) with the added benefit of teeth whitening.

If you want to clear your teeth, this is a good and effective option.

FAQ

What is the purpose of a mouthwash?

Mouthwash is a nice-to-have addition to your daily oral health routine of brushing and flossing. Mouthwash is formulated to help reduce bacteria, eliminate plaque, and minimize future plaque build-up. It's effective enough at reducing bacteria that you should add mouthwash to your routine — but it definitely shouldn't replace brushing or flossing.

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