Unfortunately, clinical studies have shown that mouthwashes do very little to kill bacteria. There is one exception however. Listerine is the only over the counter mouthwash to have been clinically proven to kill bacteria which cause plaque and gingivitis. In this respect, the product more than lives up to its advertising hype. When it comes to reducing bad breath it seems that saliva is our friend.
Saliva helps dissolve smelly sulfur particles and washes away bacteria and food particles.
Anything that stimulates saliva production can therefore help combat bad breath. Instead of taking a breath mint try a drink of water or eating - both of which stimulate saliva production. Besides fluoride toothpaste and a good toothbrush one of the best dental buys is dental floss. Relatively inexpensive, the use of dental floss can save hundreds to thousands of dollars in future dental costs. You see by brushing we rid the mouth of bacteria reducing the risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease.