Best Toothpaste for Bad Breath
When we compare toothpaste, we will see that there are no significant differences in terms of chemical composition. Chemical substances such as flavoring, abrasive, coloring, and fragrance contained in several kinds of toothpaste may be different. However, the chemicals that provide the main effect against bad breath are either the same or there is a slight difference in concentration. This means that most of the toothpaste for bad breath on the market are the same and there is no significant difference between them. This is so, except for some specialty toothpaste.
The Best Toothpaste For Bad Breath
Zinc-Containing Toothpaste
When choosing toothpaste for bad breath, it is more beneficial to choose the ones containing zinc salts. Especially, zinc chloride, zinc phosphate, zinc succinate, zinc gluconate, zinc citrate, zinc acetate, zinc lactate, and zinc stearate are useful as zinc compounds if we consider the effects of zinc on removing bad breath. Although the most effective zinc salts are zinc chloride, this compound is not used in toothpaste. However, there is toothpaste containing zinc gluconate, which is a good alternative to zinc chloride in terms of effectiveness.
We should also mention that only a small number of the toothpaste products contain zinc gluconate and they are mostly specialty toothpaste (eg, TheraBreath Plus Fresh Breath, etc.). The zinc lactate-containing Crest Pro-Health Advanced Gum Protection Toothpaste is also a good choice. Zinc citrate, another zinc compound, is thought to be less effective against bad breath than other zinc compounds above. Because zinc citrate is not a water-soluble substance.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, there is also toothpaste that contains other zinc salts. As a result, zinc-containing toothpaste can be much more effective on bad breath, especially when we use it while brushing the tongue.
References
American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: “Halitosis vs. Bad Breath”
Mayo Clinic: Diseases and Conditions, “Bad Breath”
Oral Health Foundation: “Bad Breath”
PubMed: “The role of toothpastes in oral malodor management”