10 Best Breath Fresheners in the Philippines 2024 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Dentist
For the days where you just can't help having tuyo and sinangag, breath fresheners are here to save the day from the smell of garlic and dried fish that just won't seem to disappear. This is because sometimes, brushing your teeth is not enough to get rid of the smell, and for people always on the go, a little extra help is needed.
But with the many products available in the market, it can be quite overwhelming to choose which breath freshener you would like the best or will be the best fit for you. This is why we have prepared a buying guide, with comments and tips from dentist Dr. Carlo Umlas, and laid out the top 10 recommended breath fresheners in the Philippine market today.
Quick List - Top Breath Fresheners
Dr. Carlo Umlas is a board-certified dentist and practices orthodontics and endodontics in the Philippines. He is also currently undergoing training in implantology. He enjoys educating patients on oral health and the impact of oral hygiene on overall health through his dental clinic, Avant Dental Solutions. You can book an appointment with him and know more about his practice through his Facebook page!
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Breath Freshener?
- Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Dr. Carlo Umlas
- How to Make Breath Fresh Permanently?
- How to Keep Breath Fresh When You Have Braces?
- What Causes Foul Breath?
- Dr. Carlo Umlas' Recommended Breath Fresheners
- Ideal for Freshening Up Hard-to-Reach Areas
- A Gentle Yet Effective Solution for Freshening Breath and Reducing Plaque
- Nothing Beats Good Oral Care
- How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
What Is a Breath Freshener?
When brushing your teeth is not enough because of stubborn odours like garlic or because of conditions such as halitosis, a breath freshener is a good way to mask foul smells on-the-go. Breath fresheners come in many forms like sprays and mints, making them a handy and portable tool for everyone.
Breath fresheners are good solutions to masking bad breath, but remember that they are only temporary and should always be followed up with proper brushing and flossing sessions.
How to Choose a Breath Freshener - Buying Guide
- Choose the type of breath freshener depending on when you’ll use it.
- Check for antibacterial, deodorizing, and moisturizing ingredients.
- Consider the ingredients rather than the fragrance.
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Choose the Type of Breath Freshener Depending on When You’ll Use It
Depending on the occasion or when you can foresee yourself needing a breath freshener, choose the right type for you so that you can maximize its use.
Breath Mints and Gum for On-the-Go Use
Using breath mints or chewing gum increases the production of saliva in the mouth, which helps get rid of food in the teeth and has a remineralizing effect that helps strengthen enamel. Their flavor coats the mouth and masks smell, usually for 20 minutes.
As they're small and portable, it's easy to bring them around in a bag or even just in your pocket, which makes them great for the on-the-go. You can share them easily as well with your friends or family after lunch or dinner date.
Our natural saliva helps carry away bacteria and food bits from our mouth. If this slows down, you could have a dry mouth and an accumulation of bacteria, which then leads to bad breath. Although they are temporary measures, mints and gums help stimulate the salivary glands to produce saliva and reduce the breakdown of bacteria. However, try to go for sugar-free ones to avoid contributing to tooth decay.
Breath Sprays to Quickly Freshen Your Breath
From their names, breath sprays are used by spraying them in your mouth. This is recommended to use during formal events or before meetings as you can easily step to the washroom and apply it, getting fresh breath without having to chew gum or suck on a breath mint.
In saying this, make sure to get an alcohol-free breath spray as much as possible since those containing alcohol tend to dry out the mouth, resulting in an odor. This worsens the issue since the mouth is meant to be moist. These products last for around 20 minutes as well.
If your breath spray has alcohol in it, it's best to use it just occasionally. Overuse of breath sprays with alcohol can lead to drying of the mouth and cause even more bad breath in the long run.
Mouthwash for Daily Use at Home
For those who want something stronger to use at home, mouthwash or a mouth rinse is a great breath freshener to use at home. They're formulated to kill the microorganisms that you cannot remove by brushing your teeth. Aside from giving you fresh breath, they also prevent tooth decay.
Some rinses or mouthwashes also offer additional benefits like fluoride content, which helps to protect the enamel. Also, when choosing a mouthwash, it's better to go with alcohol-free ones because these have fewer effects on existing tooth restorations.
Check for Antibacterial, Deodorizing, and Moisturizing Ingredients
The effectiveness of a breath freshener is determined by its formula. In this section, we will be laying out which ingredients you should look out for before buying a breath freshener.
Menthol and Methyl Salicylate for Antibacterial Purposes
Bacteria present in your mouth are the main causes of bad breath. This makes it important to choose ingredients with antibacterial properties. Even though brushing and flossing is still the best way to remove these bacteria, ingredients such as menthol, thymol, and cetylpyridinium chloride help in doing this.
In saying this, alcohol is also an antibacterial agent present in many types of mouthwash. However, products containing alcohol may dry out your mouth, so it's best to opt for an alcohol-free mouthwash with other antibacterial ingredients.
Another ingredient that has been shown to have antibacterial properties is xylitol. This substance tastes sweet but doesn't cause tooth decay and in fact, reduces the risk of cavities.
Zinc Chloride and Green Tea Extract to Deodorize Your Breath
If you want to immediately freshen your breath, pick products with ingredients that have deodorizing properties. Some ingredients to look out for are zinc chloride and green tea extract, a great natural ingredient that reduces the production of compounds that cause bad breath.
Zinc chloride helps fight bad breath through its neutralizing action on the odor produced by bacteria. Green tea, on the other hand, contains antibacterial and antioxidant properties that help eliminate the causes of bad breath.
Glycerin and Aloe Vera for Moisturizing the Mouth
For those with dry mouths, especially after waking up in the morning, breath fresheners containing moisturizing ingredients are the ones for you. This is because mouth dryness leads to an increase of bacteria in your mouth. If you are prone to dryness, it would be best to get products with glycerin or aloe vera.
Aside from this, chewing gum or taking breath mints are also good options as breath fresheners since they help increase the amount of saliva in the mouth. This will make sure that your mouth is moisturized and will keep your mouth from drying.
Glycerin is often found in dental care products because it helps give a creamy texture and retain moisture. Aloe vera is even better because it actually has antiseptic properties and antioxidants that aid in the treatment and prevention of gum diseases and other oral irritations.
Consider the Ingredients Rather Than the Fragrance
Some breath fresheners try to cover your bad breath with fragrances like lemon, mint, or grapefruit. They temporarily freshen your breath but ultimately won't solve the root of the problem. On the contrary, they can even make your breath worse by mixing fragrance with a foul odor.
This is why if you usually suffer from bad breath, it's better to choose products with antibacterial and deodorizing properties instead of those with different fragrances. This is because it can do more harm than good in the long run instead of remedying the issue.
It's always better to look for breath fresheners that go the extra mile rather than just masking odors. Read the label to find out if there are any additional ingredients with antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
10 Best Breath Fresheners to Buy Online
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse | | Dentist-Formulated Solution for Long-Lasting Fresh Breath | |
2 | Colgate Periogard Mouthwash | | Antibacterial Mouthwash for Optimal Oral Health | |
3 | TheraBreath Fresh Breath, Throat Spray | | Breath Spray to Extinguish Bad Breath at Its Source | |
4 | Listerine Total Care Zero | | Gentle Mouthwash for Total Oral Care | |
5 | Altoids Breath Mints | | Strong Peppermint Breath Freshener | |
6 | Listerine Cool Mint | | Strong and Refreshing Mouthwash | |
7 | Mentos Pure Fresh Fresh Mint Pocket Bottle｜3 pieces | | Long-Lasting Sugar-Free Gum | |
8 | Ilog Maria Throat Spray | | Multipurpose Breath Spray | |
9 | Ice Breakers Wintergreen Mints | | Refreshing Sugar-Free Mints for All-Day Fresh Breath | |
10 | Fresh Breath Spray Icy Mint | | Convenient Icy Breath Spray |
Dentist-Formulated Solution for Long-Lasting Fresh Breath
Struggling with bad breath? If so, TheraBreath Fresh Breath Oral Rinse has got you covered. Its scientifically-backed formula doesn't just mask foul odors; it tackles the root cause—volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). The sodium chlorite it contains neutralizes these compounds, keeping your breath fresh for more than 12 hours.
Moreover, it includes castor oil to prevent your mouth from drying out. It also ensures a pleasant aftertaste with its mild mint flavor. According to reviews, this powerful yet gentle rinse is perfect for a morning freshen-up or lasting confidence all day. Give it a try for a reliable choice in your overall oral hygiene routine!
ColgatePeriogard Mouthwash
Antibacterial Mouthwash for Optimal Oral Health
For those suffering from bad breath that comes from gingivitis, this mouthwash is a great option for you. Its chlorhexidine gluconate content helps you deal with these oral issues as it has antimicrobial properties and is able to reduce plaque buildup. It has a universal mint flavor that is sure to refresh your breath.
Even if its formula is a bit strong, it's still safe to use as it promotes gum care, making you healthier between dental visits. This is recommended to use for those undergoing dental procedures, both before and after the process. To use this, simply rinse your mouth or gargle with it for one minute.
Breath Spray to Extinguish Bad Breath at Its Source
This breath spray comes with a special nozzle that makes it easy to spray it directly in the hard-to-reach areas in the tongue and throat. This means that you would be able to directly kill the odor-producing bacteria and neutralize bad breath by oxygenating the spot where most volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) form.
This spray is alcohol-free and formulated with aloe vera, which means that you don't have to worry about it drying out your mouth and throat. For those who want a spray that can reach the back of their throats or who want to spray the root of the problem, then this is a great option for you.
ListerineTotal Care Zero
Gentle Mouthwash for Total Oral Care
This mouthwash from Listerine is one of the brand's most popular products with its gentle formula that strengthens teeth and gums and prevents cavities and plaque formation. This is because of its zero-alcohol formula and great ingredients such as thymol and menthol with antibacterial properties.
It kills 99.9% of germs in the mouth and freshens breath, making it a great mouthwash for daily use both in the morning and evening. You can use or gargle this for just 30 seconds before expelling the liquid without needing to rinse it with water. This makes it great too for those on-the-go and those with busy mornings.
Strong Peppermint Breath Freshener
This product has a strong mint flavor derived from peppermint. Peppermint is one of the most utilized herbs to address bad breath, which means that it's a natural ingredient that has the ability to create a fresh and clean feel in the mouth. These mints are packed in a very small tin container, making them very portable.
You can easily take these anywhere and carry them wherever you go in a purse or even jacket pocket. You can even leave them in the car for a quick refreshment both to make your breath smell fresh and to wake you up. You can also reuse the can that it comes with, like some users did, as a cool earphone or chapstick case.
Strong and Refreshing Mouthwash
If you're someone who likes strong minty flavors, then you will highly appreciate this mouthwash. Aside from the refreshing taste it leaves behind. It's also formulated with thymol and menthol, which are antibacterial ingredients. It contains alcohol as well, which means that it's strong but may irritate first-time users.
In saying that, this breath freshener is effective at removing the cause of bad bread, being able to kill 99.9% of germs that cannot be eliminated by brushing your teeth. It's great to use after eating oily dishes as it's strong and for those who are used to using mouthwash.
MentosPure Fresh Fresh Mint Pocket Bottle ｜ 3 pieces
Long-Lasting Sugar-Free Gum
This breath freshener by Mentos is sugar-free gum, perfect for those with diabetes or for those who are watching their health. It has a long-lasting mint flavor that leaves your mouth cool and fresh for as long as 4-5 hours which means it's great to bring around and take after lunch or dinner dates.
It comes in a small convenient plastic bottle that you can easily take anywhere. Moreover, as it's a mint, you can give some away too to your family and friends, so you're all feeling - and smelling - refreshed all day. This is recommended for those always out and about and for those who don't use breath sprays or mouthwash.
Ilog MariaThroat Spray
Multipurpose Breath Spray
Breath sprays usually just serve one purpose, which is to freshen your breath. But this one from Ilog Maria does much more than that, with its ability to soothe your throat, especially when it's becoming itchy. It's also great for when you have singaws or canker sores as it's formulated with lots of great ingredients.
It has honey, peppermint, and spearmint oils in its ingredients list, which is sure to make your breath smell fresh and make your throat feel better. It comes in a small spray bottle, so it's travel-friendly and is convenient to bring everywhere. This is recommended for those who are prone to sore and itchy throats.
Refreshing Sugar-Free Mints for All-Day Fresh Breath
This breath mint is a sugar-free spearmint flavored candy, perfect for those who are conscious about their health. It has 30% fewer calories than sugared mints, perfect for those who are on a diet too. It will freshen and invigorate your breath, leaving behind a nice taste that many users love.
It comes in a convenient container as well, with an opening for one mint and another opening if you want to get multiple mints out at a time. It's a great companion everywhere you go and is recommended for those who like to munch on something throughout the day.
FreshBreath Spray Icy Mint
Convenient Icy Breath Spray
This breath spray is a small, convenient, icy, and minty option that is sure to freshen up your breath after eating, drinking, or even smoking. It's sugar-free, fat-free, and has no calories, which is great for those who are on a diet or for those who are conscious about what they intake.
It's formulated with glycerin, meaning that it won't dry out your mouth and throat. Its size is perfect for carrying around everywhere, even fitting in most clutches for formal events. This is recommended for those who have back-to-back meetings or for those who want something easy to carry.
Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Dr. Carlo Umlas
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Dr. Carlo Umlas.
How to Make Breath Fresh Permanently?
The first step to getting rid of bad breath permanently is to know what causes it. If it's due to poor oral hygiene, then it can be solved with consistent proper brushing and flossing habits and regular visits to the dentist.
However, if the halitosis is caused by other factors like diet, medications, or other diseases, you would first need to consult a doctor for advice on how to address these conditions.
How to Keep Breath Fresh When You Have Braces?
When you wear braces, food gets stuck in the brackets or the wires and this is what causes bad breath. Make sure to follow a consistent oral hygiene routine - brush after eating, floss daily, use mouthwash and breath fresheners, and go to the dentist regularly.
What Causes Foul Breath?
The most common cause of foul breath is poor oral hygiene. The accumulation of bacteria from food bits left in the mouth produces sulfur compounds that make your breath stink. Other causes are wounds in the mouth, tooth decay, gum disease, certain types of food, smoking, and certain drugs and medical conditions.
Dr. Carlo Umlas' Recommended Breath Fresheners
See the dentist-approved breath fresheners below! Don't skip the description to know why he recommends it.
Ideal for Freshening Up Hard-to-Reach Areas
This spray was formulated to stop bad breath in the places where they are strongest—the back of the throat and the tongue. These areas are hard to access, but just one spritz, and you can do away with the volatile sulfur compounds that cause odor. It even has a swivel sprayer to give you more control and ease of application.
The formulation itself has everything you want to neutralize bad breath. It contains green tea, xylitol, and aloe vera, all of which have antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It's also vegan and gluten-free, so it's great for those who follow that lifestyle.
A Gentle Yet Effective Solution for Freshening Breath and Reducing Plaque
This gentle mouthwash does more than just mask nasty odor after eating. It actually offers other benefits aside from freshening your breath. For one, it destroys 99.9% of germs in your mouth and prevents the formation of cavities. It also contains 4 essential oils—thymol, eucalyptol-methyl salicylate, and menthol—to reduce the buildup of plaque and tartar, and bacteria.
On top of that, it can help provide gum protection as well. It's also alcohol-free, so you don't need to worry about your mouth drying out after use. This one is a definite winner in terms of overall oral health benefits.
Nothing Beats Good Oral Care
Here are more products to check out to achieve total freshness. With these products, prepare to be confident as you blind everyone with your smile.
How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
Top 5 Breath Fresheners
No. 1: TheraBreath ｜Fresh Breath Oral Rinse
No. 2: Colgate｜Periogard Mouthwash
No. 3: TheraBreath｜Fresh Breath, Throat Spray
No. 4: Listerine｜Total Care Zero
No. 5: Altoids｜Breath Mints
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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