Simple Secrets for FRESH BREATH

Popular dental-care products can backfire, making bad breath worse over time. Here, healthy fixes that work

“I’ll finish a meal with a cup of tea, which washes away

bacteria… that cause bad breath.”

Kylie Minogue, 49

With all the cheek-kissing and close-talking we’ve been doing over the past few weeks, fresh breath is a top priority. But experts caution that our efforts to nix bad breath by amping up oral care can backfire. “Most mainstream products that promise to freshen breath don’t defeat the bacteria that cause odor,” explains Ethan Schuman, D.M.D., founder of the Schuman Center Dental Aesthetics in St. Louis. “At best, they mask odor temporarily, and many contain ingredients that help bad bacteria flourish.” The good news: Easy strategies like drinking tea after meals can improve oral health and freshen breath. Read on for three top options.

THE BEST “MINT”

Many mints contain sugar, which feeds bad-breath bacteria. An easy alternative: Fill an empty medicine vial with cardamom seeds (from your spice rack). Toss the vial into your purse and when you need to freshen up, chew on a pod for a few minutes, then spit it out. The spicy, citrusy kitchen staple freshens breath instantly and its plant compounds inhibit bacterial strains that cause odor and cavities.

THE BEST MOUTHWASH

Antiseptic rinses are often touted as a superior option, but the alcohol many contain reduces the production of saliva, says Dana Fort, D.D.S., a dentist in Chicago. “Without sufficient saliva, [oral] acid levels can climb to a point that allows odor-causing bacteria to thrive, which contributes to cavities.” A better bet: an alcoholfree swish with zinc, which thwarts the growth of bad bacteria, she adds. And a study in the European Journal of Oral Sciences found that zinc also reduces bacterial production of the sulfur compounds that make breath smell. For a drugstore option that fits the bill, try TheraBreath Plus Fresh Breath Oral Rinse.

THE BEST TOOTHPASTE

A paste that foams as you brush seems like it’s getting the job done, but Swedish scientists found the chemical that creates the foaming action (sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS) can irritate oral tissues and raise the risk of canker sores. “This can worsen odor since it creates an oral environment that allows bad bacteria to multiply,” says Edward Alvarez, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City. His advice: Switch to an SLS-free toothpaste with cinnamon bark oil. In addition to freshening breath, the oil is proven to kill oral bacteria and eradicate plaque. Try: Auromère Foam-Free Herbal Toothpaste, at drugstores and Amazon.com.