Beyond Fresh Breath.
Freshly activated HOCl helps reduce odor-causing bacteria, freshen breath and support gum health—without the burn.
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is an antimicrobial molecule naturally produced by your body's immune system to help fight germs. River Refresh brings this same chemistry to everyday oral care with a custom-formulated, freshly activated mouthwash. By complementing brushing and flossing with antimicrobial action, it helps reduce oral bacteria, supports gum hygiene and freshens breath—going beyond simply masking odors with mint.
Helps reduce oral bacteria associated with bad breath for a fresher, cleaner-feeling mouth.
Helps keep sensitive oral tissues clean and support gum health.
Alcohol-free, fluoride-free and unflavored, without the harsh sting or burn.
Common Uses for Everyday Oral Care
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) helps reduce germs and odor-causing bacteria in the mouth while supporting gum health and keeping sensitive oral tissues clean. From gum care and mouth irritations to oral piercings and dental appliances, River Refresh delivers gentle everyday oral care—with fresher breath as an added benefit.
Hypochlorous Acid Mouthwash + Oral Rinse
Start with the 48 oz Starter Kit: to make three freshly activated 16 oz batches of hocl oral rinse. Just add distilled or purified water to activate each batch at peak formulation strength—without worrying whether heat during shipping or storage has weakened a pre-mixed bottle.
When it comes to your daily oral hygiene, you want confidence in the freshness, formulation and performance of what you’re putting in your mouth.
HOCl is a powerful but sensitive antimicrobial. Exposure to heat, sunlight and air can break down HOCl, reducing its effectiveness. With premixed HOCl oral rinse, storage and shipping conditions before it reaches you aren’t always visible.
River Refresh lets you activate fresh HOCl in about 30 seconds. Each Activation Packet™ makes a fresh 16 oz batch of oral rinse, formulated at 100 ppm and a mouth-friendly pH for everyday oral care.
Read: Why Fresh Hypochlorous Acid Matters
Control Freshness. Trust Performance.™
Activate fresh HOCl in 3 simple steps.
Insert one Activation Packet™ into the 16 oz bottle.
Add distilled or purified water.
Secure cap and swirl for 10 seconds.
Insert one Activation Packet™ into the 16 oz bottle. Add distilled or purified water. Secure cap and swirl for 10 seconds.
How to Use Hypochlorous Acid Mouthwash
Start by brushing, flossing and cleaning your tongue to remove debris and buildup. Follow with River Refresh HOCl Oral Rinse for antimicrobial action that helps reduce oral bacteria, freshen breath and support gum health—going beyond what mechanical cleaning alone can do. Use at least twice daily and anytime you want a fresh reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) mouthwash helps reduce germs and odor-causing bacteria throughout the mouth. Its antimicrobial action supports everyday oral hygiene, helps keep irritated areas clean to support natural healing, promotes gum care and freshens breath—going beyond simply masking odors.
Yes. Hypochlorous acid mouthwash can be used daily when properly formulated for oral care. River Refresh Oral Rinse is specifically formulated at 100 ppm HOCl and pH 6.5–7.0 for gentle, everyday rinsing without the burn associated with alcohol-based mouthwashes.
Yes. HOCl helps reduce odor-causing bacteria rather than simply masking bad breath with mint or other flavors. For a more complete clean, start by brushing, flossing and tongue scraping to remove food particles, plaque and tongue buildup so HOCl can reach the bacteria beneath this buildup. Then use HOCl Oral Rinse for complementary antimicrobial cleansing.
Yes. HOCl’s antimicrobial properties help reduce bacteria around the gumline, while its gentle formulation provides a way to cleanse sensitive or irritated gum tissue. HOCl has also been studied for anti-inflammatory and healing-related effects, although clinical evidence that an HOCl mouthwash directly reduces gum inflammation or accelerates gum healing remains limited.
It’s a gentle yet highly effective alternative that avoids the burning, dryness and discomfort associated with some alcohol-based mouthwashes. With no added flavors or chemical coloring, it offers a simple option for everyday family care when used as directed.
HOCl mouthwash is formulated for gentle oral cleansing without the alcohol burn associated with some conventional rinses. Because it is alcohol-free and unflavored, River Refresh offers a comfortable option for sensitive mouths.
Yes. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) mouthwash provides gentle antimicrobial cleansing to help reduce bacteria and keep oral piercings clean during natural healing. Its alcohol-free formulation also aligns with oral-piercing aftercare recommendations from the American Dental Association (ADA) and Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
No. HOCl mouthwash complements brushing and flossing rather than replacing them. Brushing, flossing and tongue scraping physically remove plaque, food particles and buildup, while HOCl provides additional antimicrobial cleansing.
Hypochlorous acid is sensitive to environmental conditions, including heat, sunlight and prolonged exposure to air, which reduces its effectiveness. River Refresh’s patent-pending Activation Packet™ lets you prepare fresh HOCl mouthwash when needed rather than relying on a pre-mixed solution where the exposure in storage or transit is unknown.
For peak performance, we recommend using River Refresh Oral Rinse within 30 days of activation. HOCl is a naturally reactive molecule, and exposure to sunlight, heat and air—even the air space inside the bottle—affect its strength and stability. The rinse may remain effective beyond 30 days, but its formulation can begin to shift. Store tightly sealed in the original opaque bottle, away from heat and direct sunlight.
The Science Behind HOCl Oral Care
A healthier mouth starts with managing oral bacteria—not simply masking bad breath. That's why researchers have studied hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as an antimicrobial mouthwash. Human clinical studies have demonstrated reductions in oral bacteria, including research using 100 ppm HOCl, while additional studies have explored its role in plaque control and gum health.
HOCl's antimicrobial properties are also used across healthcare and dental settings. River Refresh brings this established chemistry to everyday oral care with a freshly activated 100 ppm rinse that complements brushing and flossing.
Published research examining HOCl's antimicrobial activty, oral bacteria, biofilms and applications in dentistry.
Published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, this review supports HOCl as a practical disinfectant for daily clinical use, while discussing broader dental applications involving oral bacteria, biofilms and infection control.
This multidisciplinary review explores HOCl applications across healthcare, including dentistry. It highlights HOCl's broad clinical relevance, including dental waterline disinfection and the importance of appropriate formulations and dosing.
A human study using 100 ppm HOCl mouthwash demonstrated significant reductions in salivary bacterial counts, showing that an HOCl rinse can provide measurable antimicrobial activity beyond simply masking bad breath.
View Published Study on PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)Research demonstrated HOCl's antimicrobial activity against oral biofilms, the bacterial communities behind dental plaque—helping explain the interest in HOCl as a complement to brushing and flossing.
View Published Study on PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)The study found HOCl mouthwash reduced salivary bacteria by 33% after 30 seconds of rinsing, demonstrating measurable antimicrobial activity in the mouth.
View Published Study on PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)Research includes different HOCl formulations and conditions, not clinical trials of River Refresh Oral Rinse.
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