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Should I use mouthwash?

Mouthwashes were invented several thousand years ago for breath freshening. One concoction, suggested in the Jewish Talmud, consists of dough water, salt and olive oil. Several years ago I encountered someone who prepares a similar brew on a regular basis. Commercial mouthwashes usually contain a concoction consisting of flavor, alcohol, and antibacterial agent(s). Several types of mouthwash have been shown to reduce malodor in clinical trials, including 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinses, Listerine and a two-phase oil:water mouthwash invented in this laboratory and marketed in Israel and the UK (Dentyl pH, which can be seen in the image above).