I'm A Fresh Breath Fanatic. These Are The Products I Can't Live Without.

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Posted 27 minutes ago

One thing you’ll learn about me within a day or so of meeting me is that I’m hyper-fixated on fresh breath. I bring a travel toothbrush and toothpaste wherever I go, always have gum in my purse and even have bags of portable brushes and mouthwash in my bags. And when I say bags, I mean bags. Between my gym bag, work bag and purse, I have at least three options for freshening post-meal funk. And that’s on the go. At home, I have an arsenal of products to combat halitosis, from a supercharged electric toothbrush, to a Waterpik water flosser, to a tongue scraper and powerful mouthwash.

Is it a lot? Yes. But according to dentist Dr. Kami Hoss, founder of SuperMouth, I’m at least fixating on the right thing. “If mints are a daily habit, that’s not a freshness problem,” he told us. “That’s your mouth asking for help.” Which is to say that you don’t want to just cover the smell, you want to get rid of what’s causing it. Here are the products I can’t live without when I’m craving minty fresh breath.

1. My favorite breath freshener

As much as I love the drugstore mouthwash, it always leaves such an unpleasant "alcohol" flavor in my mouth. Which is why I love TheraBreath, since it's alcohol-free. That means no burning and no numbing, because the formula uses oxygenating compounds to break down the sulfur bacteria on the back of your tongue, which is where most bad breath comes from. While most rinses just cover the smell with mint for an hour, this one keeps your breath minty fresh for almost 12 hours. It's ADA-accepted and pH-balanced, and there's xylitol in it, which also helps combat plague. 

I love the Mild Mint flavor because it's subtle enough that you can use it twice a day without issue. You taste mint while you're swishing and then it fades out, and it won't ruin your coffee or orange juice ten minutes later. The ingredient list is also really short for such a powerful rinse: no dyes, no sulfates, no parabens. Plus, it’s certified vegan, kosher, halal and gluten-free.

However, it is not whitening, so don't expect pearly teeth after use. If you want a more powerful duo, pair with the TheraBreath whitening toothpaste. If you're traveling, stock up on the 3-ounce TSA-approved bottles. 

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.68.

2. A medical-grade tongue scraper

If all you're doing is brushing with a standard toothbrush, you're going to have some funky breath. And if you're simply using the back of your brush to brush your tongue, you're missing so much bacteria. Brushing your tongue with a standard brush simply moves the gunk around, while a scraper —  like this metal one — actually lifts the gross stuff off, and most of what makes bad breath lives on your tongue and not on your teeth. 

The Model P is a dentist-developed, medical-grade, stainless steel scraper, which is the same tools dentists use. And before you worry, it won't rust or scrape, and it's completely dishwasher-safe. It sits low and flat so you can get far enough back without triggering a gag reflex. It's easy to maneuver with a one-handed grip, and can clean nearly all of the bacteria off in one pass. 

As well as this works, it's not a substitute for brushing, flossing and rinsing, it's just another step in your oral care routine.  

Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

3. A gold standard water flosser

I am never one of those people to say a product "changed my life," but this Waterpik Aquarius has done almost that. The Aquarius has 10 pressure settings measured in PSI, or pounds per square inch, which is just how hard the water comes out. At 10 PSI, it's a soft rinse you can use on sore or bleeding gums, or 100 PSI as a focused jet that flushes out anything really packed under the gumline. Dentists recommend starting low and working your way up to a higher pressure.

My favorite feature is the massage mode for gum stimulation, with a 22-ounce reservoir that gives you 90 seconds without a refill, and a timer that pauses at 30 seconds and a minute so you know you're covering all your bases. You also get seven tips per box, including ones for braces and implants, so a household can share it. It was also the first water flosser brand to earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance. 

Get it from Amazon for $79.99 (available in four colors).

4. The toothbrush that travels everywhere with me

If you've ever packed a toothbrush loose in a bag and pulled it out later covered in lint (it happens to the best of us), this GUM folding toothbrush solves that. This piece snaps in half, so the bristles fold down into the handle and stay protected without needing a separate case to likely misplace. It flips open easily and clicks into a full-length handle that feels normal to hold, not like the stubby free toothbrushes you get that fall apart instantly. The head is also compact with soft bristles, and there's even a tongue cleaner molded into the back if you can't travel with your scraper.

You get two in a pack, so you can keep one in a suitcase and one in a carry-on. It's a manual brush, so it won't match your fancy electric one, but for a few nights away or a brush you keep in your office bag, it's not bad!

Get it from Amazon for $12.40.

5. The best on-the-go disposable toothbrushes

I used to be a diehard Colgate Wisp fan, until I found these. The Freshee Bead is a mini disposable brush with a toothpaste bead already built into the bristles, so when you bite down, it disperses and you can brush instantly. You don't even need water to clean your teeth.

Each Freshee comes individually wrapped, and has everything you need for super fresh breath in one container — the brush, paste, floss, a pick on the end and a tongue scraper. The mint is so strong too, which is clutch when you're using them after lunch or a long flight. They are amazing to keep in your car, desk or purse. Side note, though, they are a choking hazard for young kids, so keep them out of reach of small hands. 

Get it from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in three flavors/styles).

6. My secret weapon for whiter teeth and fresher breath

For most, mouthwash is the last step of your oral care routine. However, this Supersmile rinse actually comes first in my routine. It's an extra whitening pre-rinse, so it should be swished for 30 seconds before you brush. It's made with hydrogen peroxide to loosen surface stains so your toothpaste can actually clean your teeth instead of working extra hard to remove daily film.

To use the pre-rinse, do not wash your mouth out afterward, and brush immediately so that you're keeping the whitening ingredients directly on your teeth. Because it's peroxide and not abrasives, you're not scrubbing your enamel, so it's safe on both sensitive teeth and veneers too. It also works as a regular antibacterial rinse, so you get fresher breath and even less plaque as well. It's a little pricey starting at $35 a bottle, but it lasts a while so you only need a teaspoon. One very important thing to note though, you shouldn't swallow it, and you need to dilute it the first few times if your teeth are extra sensitive. 

Get it from Amazon for $35+ (available in two sizes).