Unlike targeted antibiotics or certain medicated mouthwashes prescribed by dentists, most over-the-counter antibacterial rinses do not distinguish between harmful bacteria and beneficial bacteria.

Kami Hoss, a California dentist, compared it to taking an antibiotic for the mouth every day in his book ... which means it’s ...

Antimicrobial mouthwash use in RAU is intended to control microbial contamination and secondary infection. Both antibiotic (e.g., tetracycline) and antiseptic (e.g., chlorhexidine) mouthwashes ...

Use it to ease UTI symptoms while you wait for the antibiotics to kick in. According to Dr. Rodgers, over-the-counter pain relievers — and specifically NSAIDs such as naproxen (Aleve ...