mouthwash

American  

[mouth-wawsh, -wosh] / ˈmaʊθˌwɔʃ, -ˌwɒʃ /

noun

mouthwashes plural

1. a solution, often containing antiseptic, astringent, and breath-sweetening agents, used for cleansing the mouth and teeth, and for gargling.

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mouthwash British  

/ ˈmaʊθˌwɒʃ /

noun

1. a medicated aqueous solution, used for gargling and for cleansing the mouth

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mouthwashes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mouthwash

First recorded in 1830–40; mouth + wash

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mouthwash mouthwashes

It found that chlorhexidine, an antiseptic mouthwash, disrupted nitrate processing and reduced gastric nitric oxide synthesis, while dietary nitrate supplementation partly preserved microbial function and nitric oxide related signaling during antiseptic use.

From Science Daily ● May 25, 2026

An opinion piece published Wednesday by La Vanguardia newspaper—owned by a close friend of Isak—said Jonathan’s arrest leaves “a bitter taste in the mouth that no toothpaste or mouthwash can wash away.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

All teeth yellow with time, and no amount of brushing and mouthwash can fix that—you’d have to have veneers or get bleach treatments, common choices for many Americans, particularly those in the public eye.

From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2025

I felt little emotion, laser-focused on finding a place for our family to live and procuring essentials: toothbrushes, mouthwash, underwear and sneakers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2025

He rinsed the soap out of his hair, brushed his teeth, and used the complimentary mouthwash to get rid of the cheese taste.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar

Traditional oral care products like alcohol-based mouthwashes and chlorhexidine solutions kill harmful bacteria, but they also wipe out beneficial microbes.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026

It is found in some consumer products like mouthwashes, but it is not meant to be swallowed in those instances.

From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2025

Xylitol in particular has been shown to be effective, and can be found in mouthwashes, toothpastes and sugar-free gums.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

But generally, if you’re getting regular cleanings in-office and perhaps the occasional whitening treatment, at-home toothpastes, gels, and mouthwashes can be very helpful for maintaining your pearly whites.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2018

“One survey last year, conducted by Dental Survey magazine,” The Post noted in 1964, “listed the product No. 6 among approximately 105 commercial mouthwashes which dentists recommend to their patients.”

From Washington Post ● Feb. 5, 2017