Looking for mouthwash with natural ingredients you can actually read? We tested the best of the best – free of triclosan, alcohol, sulfates, and other unpleasant chemicals.
Mouthwash or a mouth rinse is a great addition to any brushing and flossing regimen. These rinses can reach nearly 100% of the surfaces in your mouth, unlike brushing, which means you stand a better chance of busting bacteria and maintaining (or achieving) great oral health.
The trouble is, most conventional mouthwashes contain triclosan, alcohol, sulfates, and other chemicals that can irritate the delicate tissues in your mouth. And, as these rinses get sent down the drain on the regular, they also risk contaminating waterways, harming wildlife, and contributing to antibiotic resistance.
There are better options though, so we’ve rounded up the best natural mouthwashes and added a quick guide below on what to avoid in a mouthwash.
Tom’s of Maine Wicked Fresh Mouthwash
Highlights: Fresh taste without being overly harsh. Made by a company with more than 45 years in the natural products business! No artificial colors, flavors, fragrances, preservatives, or animal ingredients.
- Free from artificial colors, flavors, fragrances, and preservatives
- Vegan-friendly – no animal ingredients or animal testing
- No alcohol, sorbitol, or fluoride
- Readily available and affordable
- Company prioritizes using recycled and renewable materials
- Company has fair working standards and solid ethics
- Excellent sized cap you can use and rinse each time
- Some ToM products (not Wicked Fresh) contain bee-derived propolis or beeswax
- ToM was bought by Colgate-Palmolive in 2006 – no longer independent
- Plastic bottle (recyclable)
- Quite a flavor blast – maybe too much for some, especially at bedtime!
Tom’s of Maine has been making quality personal care products for more than 45 years using naturally derived ingredients.
More importantly, Wicked Fresh is free from alcohol, sorbitol, and fluoride, and instead features zinc to help support oral health and blitz bad bacteria in the mouth.
I’ve been using their Wicked Fresh mouthwash for more years than I can remember, and I have zero cavities (yes, totally anecdata!). My wife recently started using it too and has zero complaints.
This mouthwash is very refreshing, with a bright flavor that really makes your mouth feel clean. It’s a good morning mouthwash, but for anyone with sensory overload, you might want to choose a more subtle mouthwash for winding down at bedtime.
I really like the sizeable cap, which is easy to use and rinse each time. It’s also very leakproof, should you need to take your mouthwash when travelling. And the plastic bottle, while plastic, is easy to recycle in most places. A little also goes a long way with this mouthwash, meaning it wins points from me for value for money and minimizing packaging overall.
The company maintains a Stewardship review process, which means every ingredient is assessed for its sustainability and is naturally derived and responsibly sourced.
Some contain bee-derived ingredients such as propolis and beeswax. Tom’s of Maine prioritizes the use of recycled and renewable materials, with packaging that is easily recycled or biodegradable. They are also careful about social responsibility along their supply chain, ensuring fair labor standards for workers.
Unfortunately, Tom’s of Maine is no longer an independent company, having been bought by Colgate-Palmolive in 2006. While their parent company’s track record on sustainability is… not great, Tom’s of Maine continues to donate 10% of profits to non-profit organizations and encourage employees to use 5% of their paid hours to volunteer.
Aqua, Glycerin (vegetable derived), Sorbitol (corn derived), Aloe barbadensis leaf juice (Organic), Propanediol (corn derived), Xylitol (derived from birch trees or corn), Aroma (natural oils derived from mint leaves and other aromatic plants), Benzoic Acid (from apples or cinnamon), Zinc Chloride (derived from purified zinc), Menthol (from cornmint, AKA Mentha arvensis oil), Sodium Hydroxide (a pH adjuster derived from salted water).
Banyan Botanicals Daily Swish
Highlights: 100% certified organic ingredients, vegan, and comes in a recyclable bottle. Two flavor options!
- Made with 100% certified organic ingredients
- Vegan friendly
- Two flavor options: Mint and Cinnamon
- Relatively affordable for an oil pulling rinse
- Recyclable bottle
- Made in the US by a B Corp
- Oil pulling isn’t for everyone! Very different to standard mouthwash
- Not a great choice if you dislike fennel or aniseed type flavors
Based on the Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling, this natural mouthwash from Banyan Botanicals is fully organic and unfussy, making it easy to incorporate into your daily routine. It comes in two flavors, making it a great choice if you dislike mint.
I tried the cinnamon flavor Banyan Botanicals Daily Swish for a week and while I like the change from minty mouthwashes, the fennel/aniseed flavor still comes through quite strongly. Fennel is pretty much the only vegetable I dislike, which makes this mouthwash a challenge for me to use. If you don’t hate fennel though, this mouthwash is a great choice!
Other than the flavor, this mouthwash is a hit! I was wary of oil pulling and the idea of oily teeth afterwards, but the technique is super simple and didn’t leave my mouth feeling dry or scoured like some mouthwashes can. Instead, my mouth has felt clean and hydrated.
I’m keen to try the mint flavor next and if it disguises the fennel better, that might be my new every other day mouthwash alongside Tom’s of Maine’s Wicked Fresh.
To use, swish two to three teaspoons of the oil around your mouth for at least a few minutes (up to 20 minutes). Spit out the oil and then rinse your mouth with warm water.
Refined Sesame Oil*, Refined Coconut Oil*, Guduchi*, Fennel*, Amalaki*, Haritaki*, Bibhitaki*, [Peppermint Essential Oil*, Spearmint Essential Oil*] or [Cinnamon Essential Oils*, Clove Essential Oil*]. *Certified Organic
Georganics Coconut Oil Pulling Mouthwash
Highlights: Made with simple, food-grade organic ingredients and sold in a recyclable glass jar.
- Affordable
- Vegan-friendly
- Four options including a kid-friendly soothing formula
- Activated charcoal option to whiten teeth
- Sold in a recyclable glass jar with eco-friendly packaging
- Made in the UK
- Free of fluoride, glycerin, and SLS
- Ships from the UK, in glass, meaning more carbon emissions for US customers
This is a super eco-friendly oil pulling mouthwash made in the UK with simple organic ingredients – and it’s affordable!
Georganics Coconut Oil Pulling Mouthwash is sold in a recyclable glass jar with an aluminum lid and packaging made from compostable materials. It has a spearmint flavor to override the coconut taste, uses food-grade ingredients suitable for vegans, and is fluoride, glycerin, and SLS free.
The formula is available as antimicrobial English Peppermint or Tea Tree Oil, soothing Red Mandarin (which is safe to use in pregnancy and for young children), and Activated Charcoal. The latter has 1g/100ml of activated charcoal from coconut shells to give the mouthwash a mildly abrasive quality that can help with teeth whitening. The activated charcoal also helps trap bacteria.
Organic Fractionated Coconut Oil, Organic Spearmint Oil, Vitamin E, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Olas Marine Bio-Active Mouthwash
Highlights: Plant-based ingredients and made to help with plaque-causing bacteria and oral inflammation.
- Formulated to do more than freshen breath – has genuine antibacterial, antiplaque ingredients
- Includes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients
- Supports all-round oral health
- Includes vegan-friendly coenzyme-Q10
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Responsibly sourced ingredients
- Glass bottle
- Made and packaged in the US
- Free from SLS, fluoride, artificial colors or fragrances
- Pricey
- Hard to track down sometimes
Olas Marine Bio-Active Mouthwash is eco-friendly and made with natural, responsibly sourced ingredients that do a great job looking after your oral health. The mouthwash comes in an attractive glass bottle and everything is made and packaged in the USA. .
The Olas formula is a step up from conventional mouthwash as it contains a plethora of plant-based ingredients that help tackle plaque-causing bacteria, restore fresh breath, reduce oral inflammation, and even improve antioxidant levels and immune function in the mouth. These ingredients include naturally rich sea salts and blue-green algae extract, as well as immune-supporting echinacea, minerals (calcium and magnesium), and vegan CoQ10 (which supports gum health and heart health).
Water (aqua), glycerin, sucralose, xylitol, sodium bicarbonate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, anthemis nobilis flower oil, commiphora myrrha oil, citrus paridisi (grapefruit) peel oil, thymus vulgaris extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) extract, echinacea angustifolia extract, boswellia serrata gum extract, cupressus sempervirens (cypress) leaf extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) extract, cyanobacter (blue green algae) extract & marine seaweed collagen, saccharomyces/sodium ferment & saccharomyces/calcium ferment & saccaromyces magnesium/ferment & adenosine trifosphate, sodium bicarbonate, polyglyceryl-4 laurate/sebacate (and) polyglyceryl-4 caprylate/caprate (and) water, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, l-menthol 100%, ubiquinone
Lumineux Clean & Fresh Mouthwash
Highlights: MadeSafe certified, SLS-free, made of naturally-derived ingredients, by a BIPOC owned business.
- SLS-free and MadeSafe certified
- Relatively affordable
- Lots of organic ingredients
- Soothing and cleansing
- Whitening mouthwash also available
- Good sized cap for rinsing
- Pricier than Tom’s of Maine
- Harder to track down than some other options
- Not all ingredients are certified organic
- Plastic bottle
Made by a BIPOC owned business, this SLS-free mouthwash is packed with natural ingredients to support oral health. There’s soothing aloe, Dead Sea salt, Holy Basil oil, and wintergreen and clove oil as well as zinc citrate.
Some of the ingredients are certified organic, and all are naturally derived. It’s a little pricier than Tom’s of Maine but still relatively affordable as far as natural mouthwashes go.
I tend to find minty mouthwashes too strong and abrasive, so I was keen to try the Lumineux Clean & Fresh Mouthwash that contains aloe. After a week of using it, I can definitely tell that this formula is soothing and healing, and not at all drying.
It’s just minty enough to give that fresh breath feeling, but the overall sense is that the ingredients are calming to sensitive oral tissues. If you suffer from mouth ulcers, sore gums, or other inflammatory issues in your mouth, this is a great option (as is the Olas, though that’s more expensive).
The cap is also easy to use and a good size for dosing and rinsing.
Lumineux also offer a whitening mouthwash which is very similar but includes coconut oil, lemon, and sage.
Clean & Fresh: Purified Water (Aqua), Xylitol, Organic Aloe Vera Juice (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice), Dead Sea Salt (Maris Sal), Tulsi / Holy Basil Oil (Ocimum Basilicum), Organic Peppermint Oil (Menta Piperita), Spearmint Leaf Oil (Mentha Viridis), Organic Wintergreen Leaf Oil (Gaultheria Procumbens), Clove Flower Oil (Eugenia Caryophyllus), Zinc Citrate.
Tea Tree Therapy Mouthwash with Tea Tree Oil
Highlights: Alcohol-free with a mild flavor. Natural antibacterial ingredients, and free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives.
- Naturally antibacterial
- Very mild tea tree flavor
- Very affordable
- Vegan-friendly
- Plastic bottle
- Small cap (you’ll need a separate cup to use)
This alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash has a short list of natural ingredients but sure packs a punch. Don’t let its mild flavor fool you. This mouthwash helped nix a family member’s emerging gum infection and she didn’t even complain about the taste!
This is also one of the most affordable mouthwashes around – get a 3-pack for around $21 on Amazon!
I confess, I only got to use this mouthwash a couple of times as a visiting family member arrived with a brewing gum infection and this was the mouthwash I’d lined up to try next. Perfect timing as tea tree is a fantastic natural antiseptic.
Said family member not only cleared up the gum infection fast, they liked this mouthwash so much that they used almost all of it up!
When I finally got a chance to try it, I was really pleasantly surprised at how mild the flavor is. I had expected a real blast of tea tree, but this mouthwash has just enough to maintain oral hygiene without veering into unpleasant taste territory.
My big thumbs-down for this one is the cap, however. It’s quite small and flimsy and not at all useful for pouring out the mouthwash, swishing, and then rinsing. You’ll need a separate cup or cap, unless you swig from the bottle (not recommended!).
Made in the USA by an Australian company that’s been around for a good 20 years or so, this mouthwash harnesses the power of the native tea tree plant as a natural antiseptic. It’s low-cost, simple, and vegan-friendly.
Deionized water, sorbitol, tea tree oil (oil of melaleuca alternifolia), natural mint flavor, citric acid, and sodium citrate.
The Dirt – Oil Pulling Mouthwash
Highlights: Packed with essential oils and antimicrobials and made by a woman-owned company.
- Includes antimicrobials
- Vegan-friendly coconut oil option available
- Sweetened with stevia to disguise the ghee taste
- Woman-owned company
- Glass bottle
- Available in 4 oz and 8 oz
- Very pricey
- Not vegan
- Contains ghee
- Not certified organic
Quite a bit pricier than some other oil pulling mouthwashes, The Dirt offers an essential oil packed formula that includes turmeric, myrrh, and tea tree as natural antimicrobials, among a raft of other oils. Unfortunately, this one isn’t vegan (it contains ghee, or clarified butter), and it’s also not certified organic, though the company is woman-owned.
The Dirt also offer a Super Mint oil pulling mouthwash which does seem to be free of animal products. Both formulas are sweetened with stevia.
All in all, Banyan Botanicals is a better choice for an oil pulling mouthwash unless you’re specifically looking for something included in this formula.
Luscious clove, rose, and mint: Sesame Oil (Sesamum Indicum), MCT/Fractionated Coconut Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides), Grass-fed Ghee, Sea Buckthorn Oil (Hippophae Rhamnoides), Hexane Free Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana), Natural Menthol, Essential Oils of: Peppermint (Mentha Piperita), Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum), Myrrh, Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia), Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) and Rose (Rosa Damascena), Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Super Mint: MCT Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera), Sesame Oil (Sesamum Indicum). Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides) Essential Oils of: Proprietary Blend of Mint Oils, Clove (Syzgium Aromaticum), Tea Tree (Leptospermum Petersonii), Tumeric (Curcuma Longa). Stevia Extract (Stevia Rebaudiana), Natural Menthol and Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Aesop Mouthwash
Highlights: Warming flavors and luxury aesthetic. Created by a company that’s a B Corp and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and vegan. Contains PEG-40 though.
- Luxury minimalist old-timey medical appearance
- Glass bottle
- Warming flavors a little different to most mouthwashes
- Alcohol-free and paraben-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free certified
- B Corp with charitable wing
- Contains PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil (potential for contamination with ricin)
- Glass is heavy – higher shipping costs and associated carbon emissions
- Made in Australia
If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing, mostly natural mouthwash that is alcohol-free and screams luxury, Aesop has you covered. Their minimalist, brown glass medicine bottle design looks great and it has a pleasing cinnamon flavor profile, with aniseed, clove, and spearmint too. Aesop Mouthwash is made in Australia and is paraben-free and vegan-friendly.
The problem is that this formula, entirely unnecessarily, includes PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil. While castor oil itself isn’t troubling in a mouthwash, this kind of processed castor oil poses a risk of being contaminated with trace amounts of ricin (which is toxic).
The reason I include Aesop, then, is because the company is a B Corp and is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free. Also, their glass bottle is arguably better for the environment than the plastic bottles used for most mouthwash (even if these are recyclable). The company also has a philanthropic arm, the Aesop Foundation, that focuses on literacy. Since 2017, the Aesop Foundation has committed over AU$4.656 m to charities in Australia.
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Xylitol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Pimpinella Anisum (Anise) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil, Limonene, Eugenol
What to avoid in a mouthwash (and what to look for)
My recommendations for natural mouthwash are all free of alcohol. Sure, alcohol can help give your mouth a refreshed feel and helps kill bad bacteria, but it also dries out your mouth and kills good bacteria you actually want!
Because most mouthwashes contain alcohol or at least one of the ingredients below, this list really helps to narrow the options.
Here are a few of the things you might want to avoid in a mouthwash, given their potential for negative effects in the delicate oral cavity.:
- Alcohol
- Chlorhexidine (an irritant that can cause an allergic reaction)
- Cocamidopropyl betaine (highly toxic to aquatic life)
- Parabens
- Poloxamer 407 (an environmental toxin and toxic to human health)
- Polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 (which can be contaminated with carcinogens)
- PEG-40 hydrogenated oils (ditto contamination)
- Formaldehyde
- Triclosan
- Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
- Fragrance (a catch-all term that can cover any manner of nasty chemicals).
How natural mouthwash works
Natural mouthwash tends to rely on two main strategies for supporting oral health:
- Essential oils – including antibacterial, antiseptic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory oils
- ‘Oil pulling’.
Commonly used essential oils include peppermint, cinnamon, and lavender, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
So, for now, if oil pulling is attractive to you, go for it! But perhaps pair it with natural essential oils and, of course, a robust tooth brushing and flossing regimen. For more, check out our top picks for eco-friendly toothbrushes and green razors.
I’m concerned about Toms of Maine selling out to Colgate Palmolive & being connected to Monsanto. How can we guarantee these products are the same & use the same ingredients as before? Do we even want to advocate for these products & instead support the more local or smaller organic companies?
Great comment, Morgan.