5 Best Eco-Friendly Mouthwash Brands for a Natural Clean

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James Miller
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James is an environmentalist, sustainability expert and senior editor at TheRoundup, specializing in testing non-toxic, organic and eco-friendly products. James, his wife and two daughters believe in chemical-free and zero-waste living. They aim to leave the planet in a better state than we found it, for future generations to enjoy.
James Miller
Updated: March 19, 2024

When it comes to keeping oral health and planet health in tip-top shape, I'll admit I can be a bit obsessive. That's why I’ve already covered sustainable toothpaste, natural toothbrushes, and sustainable electric toothbrush brands in previous articles.

So, it made sense that I fully covered the topic of oral care by also hunting down the best eco friendly mouthwash brands of 2024.

I’ve crunched, sipped, swilled, and gargled my way through a mountain of eco-friendly, non-toxic, plastic-free, zero-waste mouthwash and found the top picks just for you.

They Say: Made from a blend of refreshing essential oils, our mouthwash tablets fight bad breath while at home or on the go and balance your mouth's pH levels. Strengthens enamel, thanks to N-HA, a healthier fluoride alternative. N-HA & Aloe Vera team up to tame hypersensitivity.

We Say: I wanted my overall winner to be a fully zero waste mouthwash...and that's precisely what you get with Huppy Cool Mint Mouthwash Tablets.

For $20 every four months, Huppy will initially send you 124 of their natural mouthwash tablets in a reusable and refillable aluminum container case. You'll then be sent another 124 tablets every four months in a compostable refill pouch.

This convenient subscription model means you'll never forget to buy more, and is designed to ensure you'll never run out.

Of course, if you decide a subscription doesn't suit your needs, you can cancel anytime and make one-off purchases.

These tablets are straightforward to use as part of your oral care routine:

  • Chew a single tablet until it dissolves
  • Take a sip of water and swirl it around your mouth for 30 seconds
  • Spit out (don't swallow!)

I love the concept of mouthwash in tablet form. It stops the needless transportation of water around the world. When you have it right there in the bathroom faucet anyway!

Huppy will soon be a Certified B Corporation and has seriously knocked it out of the park with this mouthwash.

100% natural ingredients, no needless water, and zero-waste packaging combine to make a truly epic zero waste mouthwash worthy of being my overall winner.

Verified Customer Reviews

  • Nice Foaming Power

    Easy to take on the road for work or play. No more tubes and the 4-month supply is a very useful benefit.

    Pamela K
    ★★★★★

  • Easy To Use And Effective

    Actually makes me want to use mouthwash. Simple easy and no plastic!

    Lisa M
    ★★★★★

  • Refreshing!

    I use these a few times during the day and they are good to keep in the car too. Really minty which I love!

    Joy Z
    ★★★★★

Best Liquid Natural Mouthwashes

As much as I believe that Huppy Cool Mint Mouthwash Tablets is one of the best natural mouthwash products on the market, I’m mindful that mouthwash in tablet form might not, for whatever reason, suit everyone.

So, to cover all bases, here are the best eco-friendly liquid mouthwashes I tested.

Ingredients: Distilled Water, food-grade hydrogen peroxide, mentha piperita (organic peppermint) oil, salvia officinalis (organic sage) oil, origanum vulgare (organic oregano) oil, melaleuca alternifolia (organic tea tree) leaf oil

They Say: Delicious flavor, a bit minty and refreshing! Eco friendly and Zero Waste 16 oz glass bottle! Comes with a beautiful bamboo cup to dispense liquid and a hanging card that can be reused as a book mark. Packaged and ship using all plastic free materials. Food grade peroxide to whiten teeth, refresh mouth, heal gums and help sooth scratchy, sore throats. Vegan & Cruelty free. Alcohol, sugar, fluoride, glycerin & gluten free. Essential oils to target gum disease, inflammation, bleeding, gum and teeth sensitivity.

We Say: This might be a controversial entry on the list because of its use of peroxide to help whiten teeth.

The peroxide used is of food-grade quality, certified as natural, and not harmful to human health.

However, my issue is whether or not adding peroxide even helps whiten your teeth to the degree the manufacturer claims.

After an entire month of using this mouthwash, I noticed no significant difference in the color of my teeth...and I’m a keen red wine drinker!

This 2015 report appears to back up my experience.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to trawl through the report (it might help with insomnia! ????), it concludes that whitening mouthwash does change the color of your teeth, but needs many months of continued use to take full effect.

So. If you want whiter teeth, and are happy using a food-grade peroxide over an extended period, then this mouthwash is a winner.

Peroxide concerns to one side; this is a high-quality mouthwash with solid eco-credentials.

I especially like the zero-waste glass bottle and the bamboo cup...perfect for sustainably measuring out the exact quantity needed.

Ingredients: Purified water, glycerin, aloe vera gel, xylitol, botanical extracts in ethyl alcohol and water (licorice root, fresh holy basil aerial parts, calendula flower, white oak bark), and essential oils of peppermint, cinnamon and tea tree. Contains less than 10% alcohol by volume.

They Say: All-natural herbal formula neutralizes bacteria, obliterates bad breath and supports healthy gums and teeth. Handcrafted in small batches of Aloe Vera, Licorice Root, Holy Basil, Calendula, White Oak Bark, Peppermint Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Xylitol. Herbal extracts and essential oils from the richest botanicals holistically balanced for a healthier mouth, mind and body. Vegan, gluten-free with no harsh chemicals, artificial flavors or colors. Completely natural, non-toxic and sugar-free.

We Say: I was initially drawn to the retro drugstore styling of Dr. H. & Co., but was ultimately impressed by the performance and eco-credentials of their mouthwash.

It does contain ethyl alcohol, so if you’re looking for an alcohol-free mouthwash, then this isn’t the one for you.

However, if you don’t mind alcohol in your mouthwash, then this is worthy of consideration.

My mouth felt very fresh after using this mouthwash. In fact, my breath was noticeably fresh for most of the day. Depending on what I had for lunch, of course (nothing can fully mask my need to go heavy on the garlic when cooking!).

I like the reusable small glass bottle this mouthwash comes in. I just wish they would replace the plastic lid with something more sustainable.

Ingredients: Coconut oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, peppermint essential oil

They Say: One of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health. Ayurveda practice starts with an internal purification and this unique oral pulling detox methodology has a long, rich history in Ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine that dates back more than 3,000 years.

We Say: I’ve covered the topic of oil-pulling mouthwash before. Check out the FAQ of my toothpaste article here.

I don’t oil pull often (maybe twice a month). To be honest, I find it a chore to swish oil around my mouth for up to 20 minutes. However, I do see the benefits when I do it.

GuruNanda Original Oil Pulling Oil is an effective and natural way to improve oral health.

Not only does it help remove plaque, reduce cavities, and combat bad breath, but it also provides long-lasting benefits to your teeth and gums.

The four natural ingredients were gentle on my mouth while still providing excellent results. And, thanks to the peppermint oil, it tastes pretty good too!

You already know that oil pulling can help improve oral health, so why not try it?

With thousands of positive reviews on Amazon, you can trust that you’re getting quality ingredients and results. Give it a try and see the difference for yourself!

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propanediol, Xylitol, Natural Flavor, Benzoic Acid, Zinc Citrate, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxide (organic)

They Say: Our Wicked Fresh mouthwash is clinically-proven to provide long-lasting fresh breath. It includes zinc, which neutralizes the odor caused by bad breath germs for long-lasting fresh breath without the burn. We produce this mouthwash without fluoride because we respect our customers' diverse needs and interests.

We Say: Tom’s of Maine is an instantly recognizable brand trying to make a positive change since being set up in 1970.

If you’re looking for a fluoride-free liquid natural mouthwash, then Tom’s of Maine is worth some serious consideration.

Wicked Fresh is an alcohol-free mouthwash that uses zinc to kill harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Tom’s of Maine is no longer a family-owned/run independent company. It was sold to Colgate-Palmolive in 2006.

Colgate-Palmolive doesn’t have the best track when it comes to sustainability. However, it appears they’re doing all they can to keep the Tom’s of Maine name as green as possible.

They donate 10% of profits to non-profit organizations and encourage employees to use 5% of their paid hours to volunteer at an organization of their choice.

For all the good they do, I feel Tom’s of Maine can’t be classed as one of the very best earth-friendly mouthwash options until they ditch the single-use plastic.

Natural Mouthwash: Buyer's Guide

Natural mouthwash contains no artificial additives, flavorings, chemicals, colorings, preservatives, etc.

Ingredients to Avoid

There are many ingredients you should try to avoid when shopping for mouthwash, including:

  • Poloxamer 407
  • Methyl Salicylate
  • Formaldehyde
  • Sodium Laurel Sulfate
  • Polysorbate
  • Cetylpyridinium Chloride
  • Benzalkonium Chloride
  • Alcohol
  • Chlorine Dioxide
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Parabens
  • Triclosan
  • Sulphates
  • PEG-40 Hydrogenated Oils
  • Palm Oil

How To Spot Zero-Waste Mouthwashes (No Single-Use Plastic)

Zero-waste mouthwash is simply natural mouthwash in reusable, zero-waste containers and shipped in plastic-free, recyclable, or compostable packaging.

We all need to do our bit to reduce plastic waste, so it’s awesome that there are now plenty of plastic-free mouthwash options available to buy.

However, work still needs to be done to eliminate more plastic bottles from the mass mouthwash market.

Environmentally Friendly Mouthwash Alternatives for Good Oral Care

Many people don’t use mouthwash at all. Some feel that brushing alone works for them, others prefer to floss instead. If that works for you...fantastic!

My oral health, however, needs a gentle helping hand every now and again - so on the advice of my dentist, I do all three.

My father makes his own ‘salt wash’ mouthwash.

It’s an old family secret recipe handed down through generations.

Nah...only kidding… it’s just a half teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Rinse for 10 seconds and spit out. Repeat if required.

I don’t like the taste. But dear old dad has done it for decades and swears by it.

Mouthwash Recipes to Boost Your Oral Health and Freshen Breath

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly DIY mouthwash alternative that’s a little more sophisticated than salt in water, you’re in luck. The internet is awash with them!

I tested a few, and these are my two favorites, using natural ingredients.

2 Natural Mouthwash Recipes

Parsley And Mint Mouthwash

  1. Add two tablespoons of fresh parsley, two tablespoons of fresh mint, one cup of distilled water to a blender and blend for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Pour through a strainer into a clean reusable jar.
  3. Use one tablespoon morning and night. Do not swallow.

I still use this from time to time. It fights bad breath and leaves a lovely natural minty flavor in my mouth.

Peppermint And Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash

  1. Add one cup of distilled water, 7-10 peppermint leaves, two drops of tea tree oil, and two teaspoons of baking soda into a clean reusable jar.
  2. Close the lid tight and shake well.
  3. Use one tablespoon morning and night. Do not swallow. Shake before use to remix the baking soda.

What to take the mintiness to the next level? Try adding one drop of organic spearmint oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I use Mouthwash?

Mouthwash helps clean the parts of teeth the toothbrush sometimes can’t. Other reasons include:

  • Kill bacteria hiding in difficult-to-reach spots
  • Fight gum inflammation
  • Fight bad breath
  • Fight plaque and gingivitis
  • Fight cavities and tooth decay
  • Some mouthwashes help whiten teeth

How Often Should You Use Mouthwash?

Most people use mouthwash after brushing. So twice a day. However, always read the label of the mouthwash you’re using.

Also, my hygienist recently told me only to use mouthwash in the morning. She also recommended waiting 30 minutes after brushing to avoid washing away the fluoride, etc., of the toothpaste before it had a chance to work.

Can I Swallow Mouthwash?

No. Mouthwash is meant to the swilled around the mouth and then spat out. If you accidentally swallow a small amount, you’ll be fine (maybe a tummy ache or diarrhoea).

However, according to Healthline, if you swallow a large amount of mouthwash, you should take further steps.

Is Hello Mouthwash Sustainable?

I was impressed with the Hello mouthwash I tested. It was full of non-toxic and natural ingredients.

However, it didn’t make the list due to the plastic bottle, which means it can't be classes as eco-friendly. I only had room for one plastic bottle brand in this article...and Tom’s of Maine just edged it based on the ingredients and product quality.

The Final Word

Most mainstream mouthwashes still come in plastic bottles, and plastic bottles are bad for the environment.

Your best bet for an environmentally friendly natural mouthwash is zero-waste, plastic-free packaging.

That is why I highly recommend the mouthwash tablet from Huppy. For all the reasons mentioned throughout this article. Plus…ease of travel...

I recently had to fly for a business trip for the first time in years (I like to take the train or coach whenever possible to reduce my carbon footprint).

I was amazed at the amount of liquid (including mouthwash) being trashed at security.

No such issues with my Huppy Cool Mint Mouthwash Tablets! ????

Get In Touch

Have you made the switch to natural mouthwash? Have you gone even further and found a kick-ass zero-waste alternative? Drop me a line and let me know.

James Miller
James Miller
James is an environmentalist, sustainability expert and senior editor at TheRoundup, specializing in testing non-toxic, organic and eco-friendly products. James, his wife and two daughters believe in chemical-free and zero-waste living. They aim to leave the planet in a better state than we found it, for future generations to enjoy.

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