Best Mouthwash For Braces
Braces trap food and plaque in places a toothbrush can’t quite reach, so you need the best mouthwash for braces to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout treatment.
A good mouthwash for braces rinses debris from around brackets and wires while delivering active ingredients to the gumline, since that’s where irritation tends to flare up first during orthodontic work.
We’ll help you weigh your options, from mainstream options such as Crest, ACT, and others to LIVFRESH’s unique Plaque Removal Mouthwash, which relies on a patented ingredient backed by 26+ clinical studies showing it can deliver:
- 163% better tartar control
- 114% better gum health
- 72% better plaque reduction
Can You Use Mouthwash With Braces?
Let’s make one thing clear - pretty much anyone with braces (or even Invisalign, for that matter) is going to rely on mouthwash as part of their oral care ritual. In fact, most orthodontists consider it a non-negotiable.
Now, can you use mouthwash with braces and expect it to replace brushing and flossing? Definitely not. But it fills a gap that those two can't cover when brackets, bands, and archwires are blocking the way.
It makes sense when you think about it. Metal and ceramic brackets create dozens of tiny surfaces for plaque to hide. Archwires trap food underneath them. Elastic ligatures collect bacteria faster than you'd think.
Brushing handles the broad surfaces, flossing gets between teeth, and mouthwash covers the rest - under wires, around bracket bases, along irritated gums that bristles can't reach. A good mouthwash for braces is the third step every time you clean your teeth.
So, what is the best mouthwash for braces?
What is the Best Mouthwash For Braces?
What mouthwash is best for braces all depends on what you're struggling with most. Some people in braces can’t get ahead of plaque buildup, while others fight gum swelling. Maybe you’re worried about white spots forming around bracket edges.
The best mouthwash to use with braces comes down to ingredients, alcohol level, and whether the formula targets the specific problems braces create - not just freshens your breath. Let’s start with the alcohol side of things.
Why Low Alcohol is the Way to Go
High-alcohol mouthwashes burn under normal circumstances. Add braces to the picture, and that burn becomes flat-out unbearable. You’re dealing with tender gums, small cuts from wire ends poking cheeks, and irritated tissue around newly tightened brackets.
That’s the problem with traditional mouthwashes. Most people won’t stick with a habit they dread, and a bottle under the sink isn't the best mouthwash for braces, no matter what's inside it.
But, alcohol is an important piece of the puzzle. It’s not a matter of avoiding it. Low-alcohol formulas are the way to go. That’s why you won’t see Listerine on our list below. You will find a better Listerine alternative that rounds out your oral care habit without the discomfort, though.
LIVFRESH Plaque Removal Mouthwash
The best mouthwash to use with braces is one you'll actually reach for twice a day, every day, for the full length of treatment. LIVFRESH works differently from anything on drugstore shelves, and that’s the whole point.
Instead of antiseptics that kill bacteria on contact (assuming you swished long enough), Activated Edathamil breaks the molecular bond between plaque and your tooth surface. Then, it creates a barrier that prevents bacteria from reattaching. It penetrates biofilm rather than washing over it.
That matters for braces wearers. Plaque around brackets builds up in corners and crevices that a 30-second antiseptic rinse barely reaches. Clinical studies show LIVFRESH helps improve gum health by 190% more than leading alternatives and helps stop bleeding gums in as few as four weeks. It’s the best mouthwash for bleeding gums whether you wear braces or not.
There's zero burn at 0.1% alcohol. The trace alcohol carries the active ingredients rather than working as an antiseptic itself. It’s safe for brackets, wires, bands, retainers, and every other piece of orthodontic hardware in your mouth.
ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash
ACT is the standard orthodontist recommendation since it’s alcohol-free, fluoride-based, and built specifically for cavity prevention. The areas around bracket edges are prime spots for decalcification, those white marks that show up after brackets come off. ACT's sodium fluoride helps protect those zones by strengthening enamel where it's most exposed.
It’s just a bit limited in scope, though. ACT was designed for one job - cavity defense. It doesn't break down plaque biofilm or address the gum irritation braces cause.
Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash (Multi-Protection)
Crest Pro-Health Advanced uses cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). This antiseptic kills bacteria linked to gum disease. It's alcohol-free, so you don’t have to worry about sensitivity from braces.
This is a solid multi-protection rinse for germs, plaque, and breath. The catch with CPC rinses is they work by killing bacteria during the 30-60 seconds you're actually swishing. There's no lasting barrier on tooth surfaces once you spit, so bacteria start re-colonizing pretty much right away.
That's not a dealbreaker for someone without braces. But the best mouthwash for braces needs to keep working after you spit if you have 20+ bracket surfaces collecting plaque around the clock.
How to Use Mouthwash With Braces
Always rinse after brushing and flossing. Swishing mouthwash with food still caught in your brackets just moves debris around rather than treating clean surfaces. Brush first, floss second, rinse third.
Use about 20ml and swish for 30-60 seconds. Don't just hold the liquid in your mouth - actively force it through your teeth, under archwires, and around every bracket. Tilt your head to different angles so the rinse reaches upper and lower brackets evenly. The best mouthwash for braces still can't do its job if you're swishing passively with your head perfectly still.
Twice a day is standard. If your orthodontist has prescribed a specific fluoride rinse on top of your regular mouthwash, ask whether it should replace your daily rinse or work alongside it — some treatment plans call for both.
Final Words on What Mouthwash is Best For Braces
Braces make every step of oral care harder - more surfaces to clean, more hiding spots for plaque, more sensitivity to manage. What mouthwash is best for braces depends on your biggest concern, but any good mouthwash for braces handles plaque, supports gum health, and doesn't make you wince every time you rinse.
Our blog has more comparisons of ACT vs Listerine, Listerine vs Crest mouthwash, and TheraBreath vs Listerine if you’re curious about how other formulas stack up.
But the key takeaway is this: the best mouthwash to use with braces is the one that actually solves the problem your braces are creating - not just the one your drugstore puts at eye level.
Don’t settle for less than the best mouthwash for plaque removal and gum health at LIVFRESH.
