Mouthwash is a great way to make your mouth feel clean and fresh. Many people use mouthwash as part of their oral hygiene routine, usually to eliminate bad breath. Mouthwash is a liquid solution that you can swish around in your mouth or gargle, usually after you brush your teeth, in order to cover the teeth, gums, and tongue. It is then spit out.

However, not all mouthwashes are created equal. Mouthwash has a number of different uses. Some are useful in temporarily masking bad breath and rinsing the mouth of certain types of bacteria. Others have more helpful purposes and actually coat the teeth with fluoride to help strengthen them as well as prevent tooth decay. The following tips will help you to make your mouthwash more effective:
1.    Choose a mouthwash that will kill bacteria. Mouthwashes that contain mostly water and alcohol are not as effective as mouthwashes that actually kill the bacteria. Cosmetic mouthwashes with water and alcohol will simply mask the odor, usually for about 30 minutes. A mouthwash with ingredients such as cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, sanguinarine, and phenolic compounds will actually reduce bacteria in the mouth, making breath fresher for up to 8 hours or more.
2.    Make sure the mouthwash has fluoride. Fluoride is an ingredient that will help strengthen the teeth, as enamel naturally wears with age. The fluoride coating will also help prevent tooth decay.
3.    Choose a mouthwash with anti-tartar agents. Ingredients such as zinc citrate act as anti-tartar agents, which make the mouthwash more effective by reducing the amount of tartar build-up in your mouth. When tartar builds up in the mouth, it can usually only be removed by a dentist or hygienist.
4.    Use mouthwash as a supplement, not a replacement. Mouthwash is the most effective when used regularly along with brushing and flossing. It is not effective in removing plaque build-up itself, so make sure you are brushing and flossing before using mouthwash.
5.    Make sure it is recommended. The American Dental Association is an organization of dental experts that test products and their effectiveness. Make sure your mouthwash has the ADA seal of acceptance on it, which means it has been endorsed by these experts.
6.    Consider a prescription mouthwash. The strongest mouthwashes you can get will be those your dentist prescribes. These are generally for people who have special needs that regular, over the counter products won't be able to meet, such as severely sensitive gums or halitosis (chronic bad breath). If regular mouthwashes just don't seem to be doing the job, consider discussing the possibility of a prescription mouthwash with your dentist.

The above tips will help to make your mouthwash more effective. Companies who manufacture mouthwashes you can buy in the drugstore sometimes claim that they are an effective way to clean teeth and kill bacteria, but dentists give conflicting reviews. These mouthwashes may kill bacteria, but it's usually only very temporary. Keep in mind the tips to make your mouthwash more effective, and you will have fresh breath all day.