Mouthwashes - are they good or bad?

Like some of the other respondents here, I’ve been advised to avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes so as to avoid drying out my gums. My dentist said I should use any over-the-counter alcohol-free mouthwash after brushing, but he specifically keeps Closys in stock, so that’s what I use.

I also found this column, written by a dentist, which advises folks to use Closys (non-alcohol-based) as well as Listerine (alcohol-based).

(By the way, my dentist advised me to floss before brushing, so that the flossed-out food particles can be brushed away.)