The Science of the Swish: Why a Healthy-Looking Smile Is the Ultimate Beauty Trend

You wouldn’t dream of finishing your 10-step skin care routine by washing only a quarter of your face, yet most of us are doing exactly that with our smiles. We’ve mastered gut health, sleep hygiene and the perfect double-cleanse, brushing and flossing alone only reach 25 per cent of the mouth*. That’s a big gap in our dental care.

This Oral Health Month, we’re sitting down with dental expert Dr. Sanjukta “Sanj” Mohanta to debunk myths surrounding mouthwash and explore why an alcohol-free, multi-benefit rinse might be the upgrade your daily ritual is missing.

The New Era of Oral Care

The fact that oral care is showing up in more beauty and fashion conversations is no coincidence. “Your smile is the brightest and most attractive part of you,” says Dr. Mohanta. “When you have a healthy smile, you glow and exude confidence.”

If you’ve been neglecting to swish after you brush and floss, it’s time to elevate your daily oral care ritual. According to Dr. Mohanta, the easiest way to get that fresh and healthy smile is to rinse with a therapeutic mouthwash, such as LISTERINE TOTAL CARE ZERO^®.

When used regularly as directed, LISTERINE TOTAL CARE ZERO® delivers eight benefits in one swish, including cavity prevention and reduction of germs that cause bad breath, gingivitis and plaque. This alcohol-free formula allows for all eight benefits, without the bite or intense flavour. For best results, Dr. Mohanta recommends a 30-second swish with 20 millilitres of mouthwash twice daily. “Research shows that LISTERINE® does not disrupt your oral microbiome; it helps protect it,” says Dr. Mohanta. By targeting plaque buildup, it supports your mouth’s bacterial balance. While such wellness trends as oil pulling have gained traction in recent years, fluoridated mouthwashes remain as a clinically supported way to strengthen your tooth enamel and maintain oral health, when used as directed. “Mouthwash with fluoride, like LISTERINE TOTAL CARE ZERO^®, makes your enamel stronger, preventing tooth decay,” Dr. Mohanta explains. When choosing a mouthwash, look for the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) seal on the bottle. This formula carries the CDA seal, validating that adding LISTERINE TOTAL CARE ZERO® to your regular oral hygiene routine reduces and prevents gingivitis more than brushing and flossing alone.

The Ultimate Self-Care Essential

Taking a more complete approach to oral care will help brighten your smile and leave you feeling refreshed and confident, making a therapeutic mouthwash like LISTERINE TOTAL CARE ZERO^® an integral part of your self-care ritual.

Fortunately, personal care doesn’t have to take up much time. Besides offering multiple benefits in a swish, this mouth rinse is widely available at major retailers like Walmart, making it easy to incorporate into your routine without disruption.

Your smile is your most consistent accessory, and taking little moments to ensure you’re providing yourself with the most complete oral care is the health and beauty upgrade we all need to make in 2026. “Your oral health routine should involve three steps: brushing, flossing and rinsing,” says Dr. Mohanta. “Rinsing with mouthwash is the easiest and shortest step, so don’t forget to swish!”

* Kerr WJS, Kelly J, Geddes DAM. The areas of various surfaces in the human mouth from nine years to adulthood. J Dent Res. 1991;70:1528-1530.