Not all mouth rinses are the same:

The first known reference to mouth rinsing is in Chinese medicine about 2700 BC for treatment of gingivitis. Later in the Greek and Roman periods mouth rinsing became common among the upper class. Around 1960 Harold Loe demonstrated that Chlorhexidine compound could prevent the build up of plaque*. Since then the commercial use of rinses has been intense with many new products coming out every year. There are rinses for all dental needs, dry mouth, high rate of cavities, chemotherapy, periodontal disease, and halitosis. Some rinses can be purchased over the counter while some rinses need to be prescribed. There are also many homeopathic rinses that can be made at home. Regardless of the type of mouth rinses you use always follow the dosing instructions and ask your Dentist which is the right rinse for you. *Fischman, Stuart L. (1997) “the history of oral hygiene products: How far we come in 6000 years?”