Pocket Change - Shopping Blog

A few weeks ago I talked about breath capsules, and why they aren’t very effective when it comes to keeping your breath fresh. So if breath capsules don’t work, what’s a good way to keep your breath smelling clean and pleasant?

Like most things in life, there are no shortcuts when it comes to having good breath. The best advice for keeping your mouth fresh is probably the same advice that your mom gave you: brush your teeth and floss. The problem with breath capsules and other similar oral breath fresheners, is that they contain sugar, which actually feeds the bacteria that are responsible for bad breath. A good toothbrush will help fight these bacteria, and keep your mouth free of the food that they feed on.

So what’s the best type of toothbrush to get? Most dentists recommend getting an electric toothbrush, like the Oral-B D9513 Advanced Power Toothbrush. Studies have shown that the rotation oscillation motion of electric toothbrushes is more effective at removing plaque than brushing manually, and many electric toothbrushes have built-in timers to ensure that you’re brushing your teeth for the optimum amount of time.

Of course, if you’re using a toothbrush, then you’re going to need toothpaste. When it comes to toothpastes, there is no clear “best brand” to choose, as long as the toothpaste contains fluoride, so it’s really up to personal preference. There are many different flavors available these days, from citrus and tea, to the more traditional peppermint and spearmint. Personally, I use a whitening toothpaste that has the advantage of helping to whiten teeth, in addition to cleaning them.

For really fresh breath, that lasts a long time, don’t forget to floss after you brush, to clean out all the hard-to-reach areas that brushing won’t get to. If you’re looking for a more ergonomic alternative to the traditional roll of floss, you might want to consider getting a floss pick, which gives you a convenient handle for your floss, so you don’t have to worry about wrapping strings around your fingers. There is also mint flavored floss, which tastes great and helps your mouth smell fresher. They’re sugar free too, so you don’t have to worry about feeding bacteria like with the breath capsules.

Finally, for a complete clean, you’ll want to throw some mouth wash into the mix. Mouth wash is a powerful antiseptic that kills millions of odor-causing bacteria on contact, and a 30-second swish will help keep your mouth clean and your breath feeling fresh for hours.

Of course, you’re not always going to have enough time for a full clean, especially if you’re on a date and you just had a large meal. If you find yourself needing a quick breath solution on-the-go, ditch the breath capsules– I would recommend getting a hold of some sugar-free gum instead. The gum will help keep your mouth clean and smelling nice– just be sure to give your teeth a proper brushing once you get home.

-Takeshi, shopping blogger and expert tooth brusher