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Alcohol-free mouthwash

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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Three alcohol-free rinses compared

Details are from each product's DailyMed label. The ACT carton says zero alcohol and the Crest Multi-Protection carton says alcohol free; the Gum Detoxify ingredient list includes no alcohol.

Fluoride rinses for cavities

Both fluoride rinses list one use: aids in the prevention of dental cavities. They are meant to be used after brushing with a toothpaste. The labels say to swish vigorously between your teeth for 1 minute, spit it out, not swallow the rinse, and not eat or drink for 30 minutes afterward.

The ACT label is a once-daily rinse at 0.05% sodium fluoride; the Crest Multi-Protection label is a twice-daily rinse at 0.02%. Follow the directions on the bottle you buy. For toothpaste choices, see our hydroxyapatite toothpaste guide.

CPC rinses for gums

The Crest Gum Detoxify label lists cetylpyridinium chloride 0.07% to help prevent and reduce plaque and gingivitis, and to help control plaque bacteria that contribute to gingivitis and bleeding gums. It is used after your normal brushing and flossing routine, after rinsing toothpaste from your mouth.

The label says to ask a dentist if symptoms persist or the condition worsens after regular use. Bleeding gums that do not improve need a dental checkup. For cleaning between teeth, see our dental floss guide.

Like the fluoride rinses, the CPC rinse should not be swallowed. Its inactive ingredients include water, glycerin, propylene glycol, flavor and sweeteners such as sodium saccharin and sucralose, with blue 1 and yellow 6 as colors, so read the list if you are sensitive to any of them. Keep the bottle out of reach of young children between uses.

Children

• Ages 6 and up can use all three rinses, per their labels.
• Under 6. The fluoride rinse labels say consult a dentist or doctor; the CPC rinse label says do not use.
• Teach rinsing. The fluoride labels say to instruct children under 12 in good rinsing habits to minimize swallowing, and to supervise until they can rinse on their own.
• Ages 6 to under 12 should be supervised with the CPC rinse.
• Swallowing. If more than used for rinsing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

For kids' brushing, see our kids electric toothbrush guide.

Why choose alcohol-free

Some people simply prefer alcohol-free rinses for comfort or taste, and they are a practical choice for households with children who are old enough to rinse. If you have a dry mouth, an alcohol-free rinse and a dedicated dry mouth product may be more comfortable; see our dry mouth spray guide. Read the ingredient list to confirm, since flavor and formula vary by product line.

Note that the ACT label says it contains FD&C yellow no. 5 (tartrazine) as a color additive, which matters if you avoid that dye.

Using mouthwash well

• Brush and floss first; mouthwash adds to, not replaces, brushing.
• Measure the dose: 10 mL for the fluoride rinses, 20 mL for the CPC rinse.
• Time it: 1 minute for fluoride, 30 seconds for CPC.
• Spit, do not swallow, and wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking after a fluoride rinse.
• Do not use both types back to back unless your dentist suggests it; choose the rinse that matches your main concern.

For fresh breath, see our tongue scraper guide.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Is alcohol-free mouthwash as effective?

Effectiveness depends on the active ingredient, such as fluoride for cavities or CPC for gingivitis, not alcohol.

What is CPC in mouthwash?

Cetylpyridinium chloride, an antigingivitis and antiplaque ingredient, at 0.07% in Crest Gum Detoxify.

Can kids use alcohol-free mouthwash?

These labels list ages 6 and up, with supervision; ask a dentist for children under 6.

When should I use fluoride mouthwash?

After brushing, then do not eat or drink for 30 minutes, per the labels.

Should I rinse with water after mouthwash?

The labels say to spit the rinse out; with fluoride, avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes.

Does alcohol-free mouthwash have dyes?

Some do; the ACT label lists FD&C yellow no. 5 (tartrazine) and the Crest labels list blue 1, so check inactive ingredients.

Sources

• ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mint (sodium fluoride) rinse label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• Crest Pro-Health Advanced Multi-Protection (sodium fluoride) rinse label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• Crest Pro-Health Gum Detoxify (cetylpyridinium chloride) rinse label (dailymed.nlm.nih.gov), DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Sources checked 2026-10-15.