Aims and objectives: To determine and compare the effect of triphala, chlorhexidine gluconate, and garlic extract mouthwash on salivary Streptococcus mutans count and the oral hygiene status. Materials and methods: Sixty children aged 9 to 12 years were randomly allocated into the study groups of triphala mouthwash, chlorhexidine mouthwash, garlic extracts mouthwash, and distilled water mouthwash. Examination included decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft)/decayed, missing, filled surface (dmfs) and DMFT/DMFS, plaque index, and S. mutans count on days 1, 15, and 30. Results: The results were statistically analyzed using Friedman test, Wilcoxon signed rank, repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, post hoc Tukey's honestly significant different (HSD), Kruskal–Wallis test, and Mann–Whitney test; all calculations were done by MEDCALC software 14.0.0 version. Discussion: Streptococcus mutans count had significant reductions using different mouthwashes at 15 days, but the chlorhexidine group showed significant difference from the remaining three groups. Intergroup comparison for plaque index scores of triphala, chlorhexidine, and garlic groups was similar in preventing plaque build-up during the 15 days of mouthwash use. Conclusion: All the three mouthwashes containing triphala, chlorhexidine gluconate, and garlic were comparably efficient in reducing the salivary S. mutans count as well as in limiting plaque score; however, chlorhexidine was the most effective in this aspect. In comparison of the two natural ingredients, Triphala is more effective in its antimicrobial effect.