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Best Mouthwash for Plaque

Author

Michael Hansford

Published

September 15, 2025

While brushing and flossing should always be the foundation of your oral care regimen, you need to use the best mouthwash to remove plaque to reach into deeper areas where buildup really likes to hide. But what is the best mouthwash for plaque?

LIVFRESH mouthwash is the #1 choice. It removes plaque 72% better and delivers 116% better tartar control. An added bonus? It improves gum health by 114% more, too. All of this is thanks to activated edathamil, a patented ingredient you won’t find in any other formula.

The way it works is by dissolving plaque at the molecular level, preventing it from sticking to surfaces. The best part? It’s super low alcohol and free from harsh chemicals, so it won’t disrupt your oral microbiome.

Learn more about what makes this the best anti-plaque mouthwash below and how other formulas from Listerine, Crest, and Therabreath compare. Otherwise, order LIVRFRESH risk-free today.

Best Mouthwash for Plaque (Fast Answer)

Feature	LIVFRESH Mouthwash	Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection	Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic	TheraBreath Plaque Control Pre-Brush	hello Peace Out, Plaque
Primary Role	Plaque, tartar, and gum-health mouthwash.	General multi-benefit mouthwash.	Antiseptic plaque and gingivitis rinse.	Pre-brush plaque/gingivitis rinse.	Antigingivitis / antiplaque daily rinse.
Active Tech / Ingredient	Activated Edathamil (plaque-bond disruption).	CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) + fluoride (multi-protection variant).	Essential oils (eucalyptol, thymol, menthol, methyl salicylate) + alcohol.	CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride 0.075%).	CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride 0.075%).
Alcohol Level	Very low (~0.1% alcohol).	Alcohol-free.	Standard alcohol content (noticeable burn).	Alcohol-free.	Alcohol-free.
Plaque / Tartar Claims	Up to 72% plaque reduction, 163% better tartar control vs leading brands.	Helps reduce plaque and protect against gingivitis (general claims).	Claims up to 52% more plaque reduction vs brushing and flossing alone.	Up to 24-hour plaque/gingivitis protection when used twice daily with brushing.	Antiplaque / antigingivitis labeled mouthwash.
Gum Health Positioning	114% better gum-health improvement vs leading brands.	Helps maintain gum health as part of daily care.	Helps reduce gingivitis and gum bleeding.	Supports healthier gums when used before brushing.	Promotes healthy gums with CPC + soothing botanicals.
Comfort / Sensation	Peppermint Burst; low burn, microbiome-safe.	Fresh mint; mild feel due to alcohol-free base.	Cool Mint; strong burn and intense.	Refreshing mint; gentle, non-burning rinse.	Mint, aloe, coconut; Soft feel.
Use in Routine	Use 10 mL after brushing, twice daily.	Rinse after brushing, twice daily.	Rinse full strength morning and night.	Rinse first, then brush and floss.	Rinse twice daily in addition to brushing and flossing.

Does Mouthwash Really Reduce Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky film made of bacteria, food particles, and minerals that settles on the teeth throughout the day. There’s really no way to avoid it. It’s about managing it so it doesn’t turn into tartar.

That’s what plaque turns into when it sits on your teeth or along the gumline too long. Tartar is the real problem. It can irritate the gums and cause problems like bleeding, bad breath, and early gum disease.

Brushing removes most of it, but plaque doesn’t just sit on open surfaces. It hides along the gumline, between teeth, and in pockets that toothbrush bristles can’t always reach. This is why you need the best mouthwash to remove plaque.

A good formula can loosen plaque, disrupt bacterial activity, and make it easier for daily brushing to clear buildup before it hardens. Some ingredients break apart the matrix holding plaque together, while others help calm inflamed gums or reduce the conditions that allow plaque to regrow quickly.

Be clear, mouthwash isn’t going to replace your daily brushing or flossing rituals. It complements them, filling in the gaps you’d otherwise miss. We’ve talked about the best mouthwash for gum disease, but what is the best mouthwash for plaque removal? Let’s take a look below.

What Should You Look For in a Plaque Removal Mouthwash?

Most mouthwashes on store shelves are built for breath freshening rather than plaque removal. They just give you a minty finish or a quick antibacterial rinse. But real plaque control calls for a more sophisticated formula.

Ingredients That Target Plaque Adhesion

The mouthwash needs active ingredients that interfere with the bond between plaque and enamel to actually make a difference. Here are some of the most powerful ingredients:

Activated Edathamil: A patented ingredient for plaque control. It disrupts the matrix that helps plaque stick to enamel so it’s easier to remove during brushing. Only available in LIVFRESH Mouthwash.
Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC): Found in some mainstream rinses. CPC helps reduce bacterial buildup, which indirectly slows plaque formation.
Essential Oil Blends (like thymol, menthol, eucalyptol): These weaken bacteria linked to plaque growth. They don’t break plaque apart directly, but they help keep new buildup from forming as quickly.
Enzyme-Based Ingredients: Some specialty rinses use food-grade enzymes to help loosen biofilm. They can be somewhat hit or miss, though.

The most important thing is whether the formula interacts with plaque at a chemical level, not whether it simply tastes strong. Look for a brand that has strong research studies behind its formula.

Ingredients That Support Gum Health

Since plaque buildup irritates gum tissue, a good mouthwash should also calm and nourish the gums while clearing out the bacteria that trigger inflammation. Helpful ingredients include:

Aloe Vera: Soothes and hydrates irritated gum tissue.
Xylitol: Helps reduce bacterial activity and dry-mouth issues.
Green Tea Extract: Has mouth-soothing and antioxidant properties.
Coconut Oil or Medium-Chain Oils: Its gentle coating effect leaves the mouth feeling calmer after rinsing.

These ingredients won’t solve gum issues alone, but they are still helpful in one way or another.

Alcohol Level and Mouth Comfort

Most mouthwashes have alcohol because it helps dissolve flavor oils and provides antibacterial properties. The problem is, too much alcohol causes more harm than good. It can burn the gums, dry the mouth, and irritate sensitive tissue. Some people just find it unpleasant.

A low-alcohol or near-zero alcohol mouthwash is easier to use daily and doesn’t create that harsh sting people often avoid. Minimal alcohol also prevents dryness, which is important because dry mouth leads to faster plaque growth.

That’s why LIVFRESH uses only 0.1% alcohol - enough to serve its purpose without being offensive or impacting oral hygiene in a negative way. This is just one of many reasons LIVFRESH is the best mouthwash for plaque removal.

What is the Best Mouthwash for Plaque?

The field narrows fast once you know what actually breaks down plaque. Very few rinses are built to loosen plaque in a meaningful way. Most just freshen your breath. So, what is the best mouthwash for plaque removal in particular? Your search ends here at LIVFRESH.

LIVFRESH

LIVFRESH Mouthwash was designed for people who deal with recurring buildup, gum irritation, or that rough “morning fuzz” feeling even after brushing. It’s all based on an ingredient we developed ourselves over more than a decade: activated edathamil.

This ingredient disrupts the bond between plaque and enamel, so brushing and swishing effortlessly eliminates the sticky substance that can cause so many oral health complications. This translates to:

Smoother teeth
Fresher breath
Calmer gums
Less plaque & tartar buildup

The formula pairs that active ingredient with a clean base that’s comfortable to use every day. The alcohol content is only 0.1%, so you get a fresh peppermint taste without the sharp burn most rinses leave behind.

Further to that point, LIVFRESH is gentle enough for implants, veneers, bridges, and orthodontics. Anyone who struggles to reach tight or crowded areas with a toothbrush alone can benefit from adding LIVFRESH to their oral care arsenal.

LIVFRESH Mouthwash should be used twice daily, just like our plaque removal toothpaste. Give it a few weeks and you’ll see a dramatic difference. Activated edathamil is protected by 40 patents, 26 research studies, and endorsed by thousands of dentists. Try it risk-free today!

Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection

It’s not the best mouthwash to remove plaque, but it’s readily available - and for some people, that’s what matters most. Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection uses CPC as its active ingredient, and the formula is built to kill odor-causing bacteria and support everyday plaque control.

It’s a familiar, mainstream rinse meant to freshen the mouth, strengthen enamel, and give a cleaner feel after brushing. It’s alcohol-free, too, which means you won’t have to worry about that strong burn found in older formulas.

The limitations show up when plaque builds in tight areas or near the gumline. CPC helps reduce bacteria, but it doesn’t break apart hardened buildup or disrupt the bond that keeps plaque attached to enamel.

So, people dealing with recurring plaque or early tartar often find that the improvements flatten out over time, especially around crowded teeth or dental work. All the mouthwashes in Crest’s lineup fall short compared to LIVFRESH.

Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic

This is the brand most people associate with mouthwash. But does Listerine really make the best mouthwash for plaque? This particular formula makes a good case.

It’s powered by a classic blend of essential oils and alcohol so it has a powerful antimicrobial effect. Expect a sharp, intense sensation, followed by a “deep clean” feeling because of the heat and flavor strength.

Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic helps reduce germs connected to plaque and gingivitis and can leave the mouth feeling cleaner for longer stretches of the day. But anyone with a dry mouth, sensitivity, or irritated gums may find it uncomfortable to use regularly. The burning sensation can make it hard to commit to using it twice a day, and that’s important.

The essential oil system helps control bacteria, but it won’t have any sort of direct impact on the plaque itself. Those with orthodontics, implants, or tighter areas in particular may find that it’s not really getting the job done.

That’s why at the end of the day, LIVFRESH is the Listerine alternative more and more people are switching to. We encourage you to do the same, and you’ll see why!

TheraBreath Plaque Control Pre-Brush Rinse

TheraBreath’s Plaque Control Pre-Brush Rinse is made to be used before brushing. It gives the mouth a gentle clean and helps soften plaque so that when you go to brush, it comes free more easily.

This formula is similar to Crest’s Pro-Health Multi-Protection mouthwash in the sense that it uses CPC as its active ingredient and keeps the formula alcohol-free, dye-free, and SLS-free.

So, the rinse feels mild, spreads easily, and pairs well with sensitive mouths or anyone trying to avoid harsh ingredients. But what makes it different, and why it’s worth considering as the best mouthwash for plaque, is that it’s a pre-brush format. When used correctly, it makes it easier for toothbrush bristles to sweep away buildup.

The problem is, you know now that CPC supports plaque control but doesn’t deliver a dramatic lift in stubborn buildup on its own. What’s more, the results are totally dependent on how well you brush. It’s not engineered for deep plaque disruption or gumline trouble spots, so users with recurring tartar or bleeding gums may find the improvements limited.

You can learn more about TheraBreath vs Listerine in our blog if you’d like, but just know both fall short in comparison to LIVFRESH. It truly is the best mouthwash to remove plaque.

Hello Peace Out, Plaque

Last but not least on our list of the best mouthwash to remove plaque, we have Peace Out, Plaque by Hello. This artisan brand is yet another that relies on CPC as the core active ingredient, all while avoiding alcohol altogether.

What makes this formula unique is that it’s built around soothing ingredients like aloe and coconut oil. It has a mild mint flavor, a smooth mouthfeel, and a clean-ingredient profile for people who want a soft, comfortable rinse they can use twice a day without sting or burn.

The rinse supports gum health and fights the bacteria linked to plaque growth. But like other CPC rinses, the plaque-removal effect is supportive rather than aggressive.

It helps with daily maintenance and keeps the mouth fresher between brushes, but it isn’t going to break apart the bond that keeps plaque stuck to enamel. You may find it a bit ineffective if you deal with heavy buildup or gumline problems. You’ll be better off with LIVFRESH.

More Tips to Prevent and Remove Plaque and Tartar

LIVFRESH is the best mouthwash for plaque, but even our formula is just one piece of the puzzle. It should be paired with other oral care habits for the best results:

Brush twice a day with a toothpaste that can reach and loosen plaque instead of pushing it around (like our gel toothpaste).
Use our mouthwash before bed so biofilm has a harder time forming overnight.
Floss or use interdental brushes to clear the spots toothbrush bristles never reach.
Drink water throughout the day to keep the mouth from drying out - dry mouth accelerates plaque growth.
Limit frequent snacking, especially sticky or sugary foods, because they feed the bacteria that form plaque. Rinse with water after snacking.
Swap to an electric toothbrush for more consistent coverage across the gumline.
Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings to stop tartar from building in pockets you can’t reach at home.

But adding the best mouthwash for plaque to your arsenal is definitely the smartest way to control plaque, and you know that LIVFRESH is in a league of its own now. Order today to see and feel the difference firsthand!

Parting Thoughts on the Best Mouthwash to Remove Plaque

The best mouthwash to remove plaque is the one that can actually reach the spots where plaque forms and loosen the layer before it hardens. Most rinses freshen your breath or reduce surface bacteria, but they don’t change how easily plaque wipes away when you brush.

That’s where LIVFRESH is different, and why it’s the best mouthwash for plaque removal. Activated edathamil is a patented ingredient that breaks down the bond that keeps plaque attached to enamel.

Choose a mouthwash built for real plaque removal, not cosmetic freshness. Make LIVFRESH part of your routine and upgrade the way your mouth feels every single day!