Best Mouthwash for Gingivitis in Australia (2026)

📖 11 min read  ·  Updated 25/08/2026

What a gingivitis mouthwash actually does

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, and it is driven by one thing above all others: dental plaque. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that builds along the gumline every few hours. When it is not removed, the bacteria irritate the gum tissue — and the result is the classic early warning signs: gums that are red, swollen, tender, and that bleed when you brush. A gingivitis mouthwash earns its place by attacking that bacterial load directly, reaching the spaces a toothbrush leaves behind.

But not all mouthwashes are built for this. A supermarket “fresh breath” rinse is mostly flavour and alcohol; it does little for inflamed gums. A genuine gum mouthwash contains a proven antibacterial active at a meaningful concentration. In Australia, that almost always means chlorhexidine — so that is where any honest comparison has to start.

The one ingredient that matters: chlorhexidine

Chlorhexidine digluconate is the most studied antiseptic in dentistry. It binds to the surfaces of your mouth and releases slowly for hours after you rinse, suppressing the plaque bacteria behind gum inflammation. Decades of clinical evidence make it the benchmark ingredient for gum-focused mouthwashes — which is exactly why it appears in the products dentists reach for.

The detail that changes everything, though, is concentration. Chlorhexidine is sold in Australia at very different strengths, and the strength dictates how a product should be used. This is the single most important thing to understand before you buy a gingivitis mouthwash — and it is the part the packaging rarely explains clearly. For a deeper look at how the ingredient works, see our full guide to chlorhexidine mouthwash and who should actually use it.

Prescription strength (0.2%) vs daily strength (0.05%)

High-strength chlorhexidine rinses — 0.2%, and sometimes 0.12% — are therapeutic products. In Australia they are TGA-listed and are typically recommended by a dentist for a defined short course: after gum surgery, during an acute flare-up, or when you physically cannot brush. They work fast. But they are not designed for indefinite daily use, and the reason is the side effects that build up over weeks (more on that below).

Low-strength chlorhexidine — around 0.05% — sits at the other end. It is gentle enough to be used every day, long term, as part of ordinary gum maintenance. It will not knock back an acute infection the way a 0.2% rinse does, but that is not its job. Its job is to keep the daily bacterial load down so inflammation does not take hold in the first place — the difference between treatment and ongoing care.

Gingivitis mouthwashes in Australia, compared

Read the table by the last column, not the first. A higher chlorhexidine number is not “better” — it is stronger and shorter-term. The right product is the one that matches how long you actually need to use it.

The staining problem nobody warns you about

Here is the catch with high-strength chlorhexidine: it stains. Chlorhexidine binds to the tannins in tea, coffee and red wine, and over a couple of weeks of daily 0.2% use it can leave a noticeable brown discolouration on teeth and along the gumline. It can also cause a temporary alteration in taste. These are well-documented effects, not rare ones — a randomised clinical trial published in the Journal of Dentistry (2016) was run specifically to test ways of reducing 0.2% chlorhexidine staining, precisely because it is such a common complaint.

This is the real reason therapeutic rinses come with a “short-term use” instruction. It is not that they stop working — it is that the cosmetic side effects make them impractical to live with day after day. Curasept’s anti-discolouration system reduces the problem, but the underlying trade-off of high-strength chlorhexidine remains.

Why a daily gum rinse beats occasional heavy treatment

Gingivitis is a maintenance problem. Plaque returns within hours of brushing, every single day, for the rest of your life. Blitzing it hard for two weeks and then doing nothing simply lets the bacterial load climb straight back up. Consistent, gentle daily control does more for long-term gum health than sporadic strong treatment — the same principle behind why a low-strength daily rinse exists. An in-vitro study in the journal Antibiotics (2021) confirmed that even 0.05% chlorhexidine meaningfully reduces living bacteria in dental biofilm, supporting its role in day-to-day plaque control.

This is also why a mouthwash should never be the whole plan. It works alongside brushing and cleaning between the teeth — not instead of them. We cover exactly where a rinse helps and where it is wasted in our honest breakdown of when mouthwash actually works and when it does nothing.

Aluminium lactate: the astringent most rinses skip

Chlorhexidine tackles the bacteria. But bleeding, swollen gums also benefit from something chlorhexidine does not do — an astringent. LACALUT® AKTIV Mouthwash adds aluminium lactate, which gently contracts and firms the gum tissue, helping tender, inflamed gums feel less puffy and fragile. It is the same active that anchors the AKTIV toothpaste, and it is what sets the AKTIV rinse apart from a plain chlorhexidine mouthwash.

The combination — a daily-safe level of chlorhexidine to manage plaque bacteria, plus aluminium lactate to firm the gums, plus fluoride (400 ppm) for enamel — is built specifically for people managing ongoing gum sensitivity, not for a one-off clean. If bleeding gums are your main concern, pair it with the right paste: see our guide to the best toothpaste for bleeding gums in Australia.

How to use a gingivitis mouthwash correctly

Most people undermine their mouthwash without realising it. Three rules make the difference:

1. Do not rinse straight after brushing. Toothpaste and a chlorhexidine rinse can interfere with each other, and rinsing washes away the concentrated fluoride your toothpaste just left on your teeth. Leave a gap — use the mouthwash at a separate time of day.

2. Measure and swish for the full time. Use the recommended amount and rinse for around 30 seconds so the active has time to bind. A quick two-second swirl does very little.

3. Do not eat or drink for a short while afterwards so the active is not immediately washed off. Consistency — every day, at the same time — matters far more than intensity.

When to see a dentist

A mouthwash is for managing the everyday symptoms of gum inflammation — it is not a substitute for professional care. Book a dental visit if your gums bleed persistently for more than a week or two despite good brushing and cleaning between the teeth, if they are painful or receding, if you notice loose teeth, or if you have persistent bad breath. These can be signs the problem has progressed beyond gingivitis, and only a dentist can assess that. Learn the red flags in our guide to the warning signs of gum disease.

Made in Germany for daily gum care.

0.05% chlorhexidine + aluminium lactate + fluoride — a gingivitis mouthwash you can use every day, not just for two weeks.

Shop LACALUT® AKTIV Mouthwash

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute dental or medical advice. Consult a registered dental practitioner for assessment.