If you have a problem with chronic bad breath, you may be wondering which type of mouthwash kills bacteria most effectively, since there are so many on the market and they all promise to do just that. There are some things to keep in mind when it comes to the additives that manufacturers put in mouthwashes, some of which kill germs and bacteria, some of which simply hide or mask bad breath odors. Let's discuss this topic in a bit more detail here.

When considering which type of mouthwash kills bacteria most effectively, you also need to remember that killing bacteria is only half the battle when it comes to fighting bad breath. Having an overly dry mouth can also give you halitosis just as much as bacteria will. This is important because while alcohol will kill bacteria, it will also dry your mouth. Many mouthwashes contain a certain percentage of alcohol as their bacteria-fighting agent.

However, some mouthwashes have dropped the added ingredient of alcohol as they know this happens, or because some have a sensitivity to alcohol when using other medications or because of medical conditions. There are other ingredients that kill bacteria, however. When deciding which type of mouthwash kills bacteria most effectively without alcohol, consider those that have hydrogen peroxide as an agent instead. Peroxide also kills bacteria but doesn't dry your mouth quite as much as other mouthwashes and mouth rinses do.

Virtually any brand that's labeled as an antiseptic is the type of mouthwash that kills bacteria most effectively, as it will have at least one added ingredient to do just that. Those that are not antiseptic are typically just masking bad breath with peppermint oil. Peppermint oil does help to eliminate or cover bad breath, but it is not getting rid of the germs that cause it. If you have bad breath because of tooth decay or because of poor oral hygiene, these oils and other ingredients are not going to do much in the long run. Once the oils evaporate or are washed away through eating and swallowing, the bad breath will return.

When choosing which type of mouthwash kills bacteria most effectively for you, remember that your product must be just one part of good oral hygiene in order for your bad breath to be taken care of permanently. Brushing and flossing are also just as important.