Beating Bad Breath: Should I Use Mints or Chewing Gum?

Most people expect to have less-than-pleasant breath when they first wake up in the morning, before they’ve brushed their teeth. But if you had a salad with onions for lunch before an important work meeting or want to freshen your breath after a long day before catching up with your date over dinner, you might turn to a breath mint or chewing gum for a quick fix.

But which of these options is better for your dental health? Continue reading to learn more about some of the associated risks and benefits so you can safely improve your breath without harming your smile!

Can Breath Mints Hurt My Smile?

You’re not alone if you carry a tin of mints in your purse, desk drawer, or in the glove compartment of your vehicle. Every day, millions of U.S. Americans enjoy one or more of these small candies to cover up temporary bad breath throughout the day.

However, many available options contain high levels of sugar, which can harm your dental health. For example, disease-causing bacteria in your mouth thrive on this sweet ingredient, increasing the risk of oral issues, such as cavities and periodontal problems. You might think chewing gum is safer, but unless you pick a sugar-free pack, these options can potentially be just as damaging.

Can Chewing Sugar-Free Gum Benefit My Teeth?

If you’re frustrated by smelly breath and want a healthier solution than candies or mints, you can opt for sugar-free chewing gum, which can potentially help protect your teeth. This is because many of these products use xylitol, a naturally occurring, plant-based substitute sweetener that’s often made from birch bark.

You might be surprised to learn that studies have shown that this ingredient can potentially benefit your dental condition in more ways than one. For instance, it helps prevent plaque from clinging to your enamel and has even been known to ‘starve’ cavity-causing bacteria that aren’t designed to metabolize it.

Not only that, but the act of chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which helps rinse away germs, leftover food, or other debris to keep your mouth clean and healthy.

Are There Safer Ways to Freshen My Breath?

Although chewing sugar-free gum can offer potential benefits, the simplest and most effective way to freshen your breath more consistently is to improve your at-home dental hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing morning and night removes plaque and bacteria that produce foul-smelling compounds that cause smelly breath.

You can also improve your condition by visiting your dentist every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning, which is also known to reduce the frequency or severity of halitosis, or chronic bad breath.  

Meet the Author

Dr. Steven Onshins is an award-winning dentist who is passionate about helping families in Schenectady build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. He earned his dental degree from the Buffalo School of Dental Medicine before being selected as one of two interns to study with one of the most prestigious dentists in the Federal Government at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta. Today, he provides a complete menu of services, including routine preventive care, to improve your dental health and freshen your breath. You can request an appointment on the website or call (518) 356-5635.