Breath Fresheners

Breath fresheners: advice from a professional

September 6, 2022



Dental professionals get asked for tips on keeping our breath fresh a lot!


Bad breath is caused by microorganisms in our mouths breaking down food particles, meaning the best way to improve breath is to remove both the microorganisms and the food particles. Brushing your teeth and tongue with toothpaste does both of those. If you don't have a brush handy, a travel-sized mouth rinse helps. Find one with the ADA seal, meaning it's reached an adequate level of effectiveness. Listerine is a classic example. You can get the alcohol-free version which doesn't burn as much, but it's also not quite as effective.


Name: Listerine

Description: Antiseptic Mouthwash 

Price: $5.67

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Listerine-Antiseptic-Adult-Mouthwash-Fresh/dp/B005IHSKYS/ref=sr_1_4_mod_primary_new?keywords=listerine&qid=1661361863&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=8-4

Downloadable photo: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71X-oYVNzHL._AC_SX679_.jpg


If you want something even simpler, chewing sugar-free gum increases saliva production and helps remove some food. The best gums contain the sugar alcohol xylitol. Xylitol can kill or stop bacteria from creating the compounds which cause bad breath. Xylitol not only isn't harmful to teeth but in sufficient quantities actually prevents cavities. The lack of sugar also doesn't give microorganisms any food with which to create the compounds that cause bad breath.


Check the back of the package to make sure your gum contains xylitol. It should ideally be one of the first ingredients and the first sweetener listed. It's becoming a fairly common sweetener now thanks to its gradual acceptance in the dental world in recent years.


Name: Trident Gum with Xylitol

Description: Gum with the sugar alcohol Xylitol helps prevents cavities

Price: $2.99

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Trident-Sugar-Free-Gum-Original/dp/B071P4CK2N/ref=sr_1_6_f3_0g_fs_mod_primary_alm?keywords=trident+xylitol+gum&qid=1661362527&s=grocery&sbo=m6DjfpMzMLDmL8pSMKX8hw%3D%3D&sprefix=trident+xyl%2Cgrocery%2C131&sr=1-6

Downloadable photo: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71GRKNcRNJL._SX679_PIbundle-3,TopRight,0,0_AA679SH20_.jpg



Original Listerine

Gum with Xylitol