Do breath mints really work?

Question

I'm courious, medically , do breath mints really work for the breath? There are so many out there, some that even taste like "candy," so how can one little piece of mint relieve bad breath? When brush and flossing is necessary to remove plaque. Isn't plaque one of the reasons for bad breath?And if so, how long are they expected to last?

Answer 1

Breath mints work in two ways:
1) they temporarily mask bad odor with a strong scent of their own
2) they provide an increase in saliva which washes off some of the odor causing oral bacteria which causes halatosis (bad breath).
So they do work, but nothing beats a good brushing and a good rinse especially if you brush your tongue all the way back as far as you can without inducing your gag reflex.
That's the best way to assure good breath. Mints are very short term, sometimes lasting only minutes.
If bad breath doesn't go away with proper oral care, including regular tongue scraping, then it must be mentioned to your dentist. There may be an alternative reason for it that may warrant his/her investigation.

Answer 2

Well there are alot of reasons for bad breath.

Some people have gum disease - which makes breath very bad. Some people have stomach diseases or yeast infections in their bodies and that can make breath bad.

I always say brushing and flossing at least once a day should prevent gum disease, depending on how well you brush and floss.

Breath mints (especially the sugary ones) don't help that much, because they only add to the bacteria in your mouth. And if sugary, they increase the levels of plaque.

There are natural spearmint oil capsules that you can buy however. You swallow them whole - and they not only make the air coming up from your stomach smell nice, they also aid food digestion! I find they work alot better than breath mints.

Not that I have bad breath or anything. :o)

Answer 3

They mask the breath, but that's it. If good oral hygiene isn't enough, the question becomes, where is the bad odor coming from? There can be medical reasons for bad breath. Diabetes is just one example. Bad digestion can be a big factor. When digestion is the cause of the problem, charcoal or chlorophyll supplements with meals can improve the breath for the entire day.

Answer 4

Breath mints can cover the oder but not completly kill your breath. Brushing your teeth and tongue is best results. Plague and food stuck in your teeth causes bad breath. If you dont floss the food stuck in your teeth will rott and turn into bacteria. Which also causes bad breath.

Answer 5

yes works! but i think also bad breath is because what you have eaten or some problems in your stomach. but try to put 5 mints in your mouth and your will see if works or not will work till your brain. greets! :)

Answer 6

Yeah the do work