I always like to keep a bottle of mouthwash on my bathroom shelf; I am not loyal to mouthwash brands and will invariably buy whatever is on offer in Wilkinson for around a £1.

The mouthwash I purchased a couple of weeks ago for a £1 was Wisdom, Fresh Effect, Freshmint, Anti bacterial Mouthwash 500ml. The mouthwash comes in a tall clear plastic bottle and the mouthwash itself is a lovely pine green colour. The lid is white and safety sealed onto the bottle so needs a good turn the first time you open it, but after that it just unscrews by squeezing the sides and twisting, no child safety cap.

The mouthwash claims to freshen and protect, helps fight plaque, strengthens teeth, freshens breath and cleans hard to reach areas. The directions for use are to use twice daily after flossing and brushing. Fill cap and rinse undiluted mouthwash around teeth and gums for 30 seconds and then spit out. It is not suitable for children under six and is not to be swallowed.

I brush my teeth every morning and night and sometimes in the middle of the day if my mouth feels unfresh. I am not a religious flosser, I probably floss a few times a week, but I do use mouthwash each night before bed. I find that half a cap of mouthwash is more than enough for me, any more than that and I end up dribbling or shooting mouthwash across the bathroom. The mouthwash is quite pleasant to use, unless the bottle has been in the window, then its downright chilly. I can quite comfortably swish the mouth wash around my mouth for 30 seconds without any stinging or burning sensations. When I spit the mouthwash out there are no notable bits of food debris.

The after taste lasts for about 30 minutes then it has faded off to a vague minty taste. After breathing all over Mr H he informs me that my breath is minty. To be honest I don't feel as though the mouthwash has done anything extra for me. My teeth don't sparkle more, my breath is no fresher than usual, and my teeth don't feel any stronger. Infact now I come to think about it I feel quite disappointed by the whole mouthwash experience.

Although this mouthwash contains alcohol it is very tame, I do not feel as though all plaque and bacteria has been removed. The aroma of the mouthwash is very mild, it feels as though there is something lacking.

In conclusion, although a £1 is a good price to pay for a well known brand of mouthwash I can honestly say it is not strong enough for me; there is nothing fresh about the mint. If you like your mouthwashes mild and gentle then this one would be suited to you. If, like me, you like to feel that your mouth has been thoroughly cleansed before bed then buy something else.

I give it two stars, one for the price and another for the lovely colour.

Thank you for reading.

(This review may appear on ciao at some point)