Is chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse effective against bad breath?

Yes: This mouth rinse helps kill the bacteria in your mouth. It will help with bad breath. However the cause of the bad breath will need to be addressed. Bad breath can be caused by infected teeth, gum disease, cavities or defective fillings.

It couldn't hurt: The rinse will help a little to keep bad breath at bay, but you do have to have good teeth (no holes) and you must also practice good oral hygiene. The rinse will mostly help keep gingivitis or mild periodontitis in check. Bad breath is not only an oral problem but is possibly caused by what you have in your stomach.