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What is the Best Alkaline Mouthwash?

  • Writer: Dr. Pearl E. Whites
    Dr. Pearl E. Whites
  • Feb 2, 2023
  • 4 min read

Updated: Mar 29

A patient told us the only soda she drinks is diet and felt her teeth should still be protected since that soda is sugar free. So why is she still getting cavities and what does soda have anything to do with mouthwash? Glad you asked.

Scale of how cavities form when constantly snacking

The Science

The bacteria in your mouth cannot start creating cavities UNLESS it is in an acidic environment from 0-5.5pH.

It does not matter if the food or drink you put in your mouth has "zero sugar," you still can get cavities if your mouth is bathed long enough in acids. On average it takes your mouth about one hour to return from an acidic to neutral environment. Most things we eat or drink cause our mouth to become acidic so the sooner our mouth can return to a more neutral pH after eating or drinking helps prevent cavities. This is why alkaline products are important. On the pH scale from 0-14, the higher number greater than seven, the stronger the alkaline product.

Are some mouthwashes like rinsing with soda?

The carbonation and/or flavoring not only in diet soda but all drinks (juices, sports drinks, energy drinks, regular soda, and bottled water) are ALL acidic.


Mouthwash and Acidity

We suggest everyone use mouthwash because they have beneficial advantages. Mouthwash reaches areas that floss and toothpaste do not. Particular mouthwashes aid in treating gingivitis, bad breath, cavity formation and prevention. Though mouthwash should never replace brushing and flossing it is an excellent adjunct in caring for your teeth.


However, most mouthwashes on the market are acidic. This means that though some effectively kill off bacteria that cause cavities, their acidity creates an environment for the same bacteria to grow back even faster and almost nullifies what you are trying to accomplish.

What is an alkaline mouthwash? Simply put, it is any mouthwash with a pH that is NOT acidic. We tested nearly all mouthwashes on the market. See the table below if your brand is alkaline or acidic.

Mouthwashes to AVOID that are Acidic Enough to Cause Cavities

The pH of the following mouthwashes are in the acidic range under the 5.5pH. Surprisingly most of these are popular mouthwashes from Listerine, Colgate, Scope, and even the natural mouthwash like Toms of Maine or Natural Dentist. If you're going on a trip or something short these are fine, but if this is part of your regular daily routine then consider a different mouthwash.

pH scale of mouthwashes compared to sodas
Comparing Sodas to Common Mouthwash pH Levels

**Betadine, Colgate Optic White, Colgate Peroxyl, Colgate Total Enamel Health, Colgate Total Gum Health, Crest 3D Whitening, Crest Pro-Health, Equate Antiseptic Mouthwash, Equate Tartar Control+, Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic, Listerine Smart, Listerine Total Care, Listerine Zero, the Natural Dentist Anti-Gingivitis Rinse, PerioBrite, Scope Outlast, Smartmouth, Sonicare BreathRx, Toms of Maine (Wicked Fresh)

Good "Alkaline" Mouthwashes

These not only do what they advertise but also create an environment that prevent cavities. Pick one of these to use and feel confident that you are protecting your teeth.

Good alkaline mouthwash that are safe

**All ACTs (Dry Mouth, Bubble Gum, Restoring, Wild Watermelon, Zero Alcohol), Biotene, Equate Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash, Hello Activated Charcoal, and Peridex (prescription).

The Top 3 Alkaline Mouthwashes

The best alkaline mouthwashes of most on the USA market: play, Thera-breath, Pro maintenance rinse

If you are using mouthwash to avoid cavities then the better ones hands down are the more alkaline brands ranging from 8.01-9.82 pH. This is what Dr. Nelson endorses: Plax, Therabreath, or PRO Maintenance Rinse (Formally CTx3). All 3 are amazing and offer additional benefits to prevent cavities, treat gingivitis, antibacterial, loosen plaque, and address bad breath.

Conclusion

This study only focuses on acidic levels of mouthwashes and does not discuss the benefits of particular ingredients. Those benefits are trumped by how acidic a mouthwash is though. Know that nearly all mouthwashes have their benefits if used in short-term spurts. However, if your goal is to do all you can to not get cavities, we suggest using a mouthwash that does not foster cavity-causing bacteria to quickly grow after mouthwash use. Any of the outlined "good" mouthwashes fill that role though the best three alkaline mouthwashes in this case are Plax, Therabreath, or PRO Maintenance Rinse.

Mouthwashes in Alphabetical Order

pH

Mouthwash

6.36

ACT Dry Mouth

6.94

ACT Bubble Gum

6.37

ACT Cinnamon (Zero Alcohol)

6.51

ACT Restoring Cool Mint

6.91

ACT Wild Watermelon

3.49

Betadine Antiseptic

6.63

Biotene

4.92

Colgate Optic White Mouthwash

4.17

Colgate Peroxyl

3.50

Colgate Total Enamel Health

4.57

Colgate Total Gum Health

5.04

Crest 3D White Brilliance

3.43

Crest 3D White Diamond

5.55

Crest 3D White Glamorous Multicare Whitening

4.98

Crest 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Rinse

4.65

Crest Pro Health Clean Mint

3.33

Crest Pro-Hezlth Advanced Extra Whitening Alcohol Free

9.00

PRO Maintenance Rinse (Previously called CTx3)

4.49

Equate Antiseptic Mouthrinse

7.12

Equate Restoring Anticavity Fluoride

3.69

Equate Tartar Control Plus

4.67

GotFreshBreath

7.52

Hello Activated Charcoal

3.89

Listerine Cool Mint Anitseptic

3.23

Listerine Smart Mouth Mouthwash

3.07

Listerine Total Care

4.29

Listerine Zero

3.02

Natural Dentist Anti-Gingivitis Rinse

5.61

Peridex

5.0

PerioBrite

8.01

Plax

5.21

Scope Outlast

5.00

Smartmouth Clinical DDS

5.25

Smartmouth Dry Mouth

5.43

Smartmouth (Original)

4.10

Sonicare BreathRx

9.82

Therabreath

4.13

Toms of Main (Wicked Fresh)

Red acidic range where cavity-causing bacteria thrive

Green above that acidic range

Blue therapeutic mouthwash

​(0-5.5pH Create Environment for Cavities)

Mouthwash (Most to Least Acidic)

pH

Mouthwash

3.02

Natural Dentist Anti-Gingivitis Rinse

3.07

Listerine Total Care

3.23

Listerine Smart Mouth Mouthwash

3.33

Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening

3.43

Crest 3D White Diamond

3.49

Betadine Antiseptic

3.50

Colgate Total Enamel Health

3.69

Equate Tartar Control Plus

3.89

Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic

4.10

Sonicare BreathRx

4.13

Toms of Main (Wicked Fresh)

4.17

Colgate Peroxyl

4.29

Listerine Zero

4.49

Equate Antiseptic Mouthrinse

4.57

Colgate Total Gum Health

4.65

Crest Pro Health Clean Mint

4.67

GotFreshBreath

4.92

Colgate Optic White Mouthwash

4.98

Crest 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Rinse

5.00

Smartmouth Clinical DDS

5.00

PerioBrite

5.04

Crest 3D White Brilliance

5.21

Scope Outlast

5.25

Smartmouth Dry Mouth

5.43

Smartmouth (Original)

5.61

Peridex

6.36

ACT Dry Mouth

6.37

ACT Cinnamon (Zero Alcohol)

6.51

ACT Restoring Cool Mint

6.63

Biotene

6.91

ACT Wild Watermelon

6.94

ACT Bubble Gum

7.12

Equate Restoring Anticavity Fluoride

7.52

Hello Activated Charcoal

8.01

Plax

9.00

PRO Maintenance Rinse (Previously called CTx3)

9.82

Therabreath


pH of mouth when snacking

15 commentaires


isabelle Hayes
isabelle Hayes
02 nov. 2024

I cannot have mint. Does the Citrus-flavored CariFree Maintenance Rinse work just the same as the mint? Also, are there other potential drawbacks to citrus, like it wearing down enamel?

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Dr. Pearl E. Whites
Dr. Pearl E. Whites
08 nov. 2024
En réponse à

Yes. The CariFree citrus-flavored maintenance rinse is just as effective as the mint. Citrus itself is very acidic but the citrus mouth rinse from CariFree is rather alkaline and very safe. The citrus flavoring is not harmful to your teeth especially in mouth rinse. You would not need to worry about wearing down your enamel with an alkaline mouth rinse.


Also, we posted an article on what the best toothpastes are for those that cannot do mint. Hope this is helpful to you: https://www.centralpointfamilydentistry.com/post/what-are-the-best-hypoallergenic-toothpastes

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Membre inconnu
30 mars 2024

Can you provide pH of Fluoridex Daily Renewal Mouthrinse?

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Dr. Pearl E. Whites
Dr. Pearl E. Whites
01 mai 2024
En réponse à

We have aim to test that ourselves but the reported pH value of Fluoridex Daily Renewal is 5.10--very much in the acidic category.

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Membre inconnu
28 mars 2024

Thanks for helpful post! What versions of Plax are pH 8.0?

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Dr. Pearl E. Whites
Dr. Pearl E. Whites
01 mai 2024
En réponse à

Plax Advanced Formula Plaque Loosening Rinse, Mild Mint

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Membre inconnu
18 mars 2024

Which Therabreath flavour are you referring to that has a PH level of 9.8? Mild mint? I watched a YouTube Video and every therabreath has different PH levels. Please advise on which flavour you are referring to that had a reading of 9.8.

Thank you

Modifié
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Dr. Pearl E. Whites
Dr. Pearl E. Whites
01 mai 2024
En réponse à

We have not individually tested the multiple Therabreath rinses; however, the company has reported the following pH for their mouthrinses:

7.1 pH Therabreath Dry Mouth/ CBD Users

4.5 pH Therabreath For Kids! Anti Cavity Oral Rinse - Grapes Galore

7.25 pH Therabreath Fresh Breath Icy Mint

9.3 pH Therabreath Fresh Breath Mild Mint

7.5 pH Therabreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse - Rainforest Mint

5.78 pH Therabreath Healthy Gums Oral Rinse w/ Added CPC - Clean Mint

7.25 pH Therabreath Healthy Smile Sparkle Mint

7.05 pH Therabreath Plus Peppermint

6.05 pH Therabreath Whitening

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Membre inconnu
25 sept. 2023

OptiRInse mouthwashes are also pH Neutral with Citrox and Xylitol (and FL .05% or .2% ) Study from the University of Toronto found it to be even more effective as a pre-procedural rinse than CHx. We love it at my office. Great article. Thank you for highlighting this.

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