THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A MOUTHWASH COMPRISING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF A BASIC AMINO ACID, IN FREE OR SALT FORM TOGETHER WITH AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF A PRESERVATIVE SELECTED FROM METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE (MIT), BENZYL ALCOHOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, AND COMBINATIONS THEREOF; AS WELL AS TO METHODS OF USING AND OF MAKING SUCH COMPOSITIONS.