8 Toothpastes That Dentists Swear Will Prevent Bad Breath (2024)

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Fresh, minty breath is right this way.

Shannon Bauer

Shannon M. Bauer is a Senior Commerce Editor for Dotdash Meredith's Beauty & Style Group. She joined the Shape team in 2022 and works with a team of talented freelance writers to create expert- and research-driven product roundups. Shannon has seven years of experience writing, editing, and producing beauty and wellness content for top print and digital publications. Shannon was previously a Beauty Editor at Parents, Parents Latina, and Shape print magazines.

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Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT

As the Senior Fitness Editor at Shape, Kristen oversees the Fitness category and covers workout trends, exercise tips, recovery, and more. Previously, Kristen was the Chief Content Officer at aSweatLife.com, where she led content and editorial strategy. She has experience in copywriting and digital marketing, and she's an award-winning freelancer who works with B2C clients in health and wellness.

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Updated on April 5, 2024

Reviewed by

Shannon Bauer

Reviewed byShannon Bauer

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8 Toothpastes That Dentists Swear Will Prevent Bad Breath (4)

Few things are more mortifying than noticing someone slowly backing away from you and wondering if the garlic pasta you had for dinner last night is grossing them out. Whether your bad breath is due to a chronic issue (think: gingivitis), a recent meal, or a buildup between brushings, dealing with the issue can be majorly embarrassing."Oral bacteria communicates and organizes to create a biofilm, which attaches to your teeth once a day on average," says Kevin Sands, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills. This accumulation can cause an odor to develop in your mouth.

Best Toothpaste for Bad Breath Overall

TheraBreath Fresh Breath Toothpaste

View On Amazon$24 View On Walmart$8 View On Walgreens$11

Why We Like It: A dentist created this toothpaste, so you know it’s good.

It’s Worth Noting: It doesn’t foam up or produce a lather.

Flavor: Mild Mint

TheraBreath is one of the best toothpastes for bad breath, and it's a top-selling on Amazon to boot. Founded by a dentist who wanted to help his own daughter conquer her bad breath, this paste uses oxygenation to attack bad breath at the source (the release of oxygen disrupts the ability of harmful bacteria to grow and colonize), while fluoride helps control plaque, tartar, and cavities. Also nice: It's free of artificial colors and flavors and is certified vegan and kosher. But if you love the feeling of foamy, lathered toothpaste, the TheraBreath toothpaste may not be your match. It turns to liquid quickly while in use.

Best Anticavity Toothpaste for Bad Breath

Crest 3D White Toothpaste Radiant Mint

View On Amazon$22 View On Walmart$13 View On Target$5

Why We Like It: The fluoride formula strengthens enamel and protects against cavities.

It’s Worth Noting: It doesn't quite live up to its whitening promises.

Flavor: Radiant Mint

Your toothpaste needs to do it all — and even if you’re looking for toothpaste for bad breath specifically, you probably also want to protect your teeth against cavities. The Crest 3D White Toothpaste wins high praise for strengthening enamel, removing surface stains, and not irritating sensitive teeth, making it an all-around winner. Although this toothpaste claims to remove up to 80 percent of surface stains and whiten teeth, it didn't totally live up to the whitening hype. If whitening your teeth with toothpaste and fixing bad breath is your goal, we’d recommend Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Baking Soda & Peroxide Toothpaste (more on that below).

Best Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

Sensodyne Pronamel Fresh Breath

View On Amazon$18

Why We Like It: It protects your teeth from discomfort while fighting bad breath.

It’s Worth Noting: It doesn’t have any whitening or stain-removing capabilities.

Flavor: Fresh Wave

If you have sensitive teeth or gums, consider this toothpaste that binds to dentin (the layer beneath your enamel) to protect against hot and cold substances. On top of being great for those with sensitivities, it also promises fresh breath, fighting against odor-causing bacteria and leaving you with a minty clean feeling.

Longest-Lasting Toothpaste for Bad Breath

Colgate Max Fresh Whitening Toothpaste with Breath Strips

View On Walmart$20

Why We Like It: The brand claims that the freshness lasts for hours, and who wouldn't want that?

It’s Worth Noting: Other Colgate toothpastes do a better job targeting lingering food aftertastes.

Flavor: Clean Mint

Numbers don’t lie: This toothpaste offers a 10x longer-lasting cool than the next leading fluoride toothpaste. Made with fluoride and packed with hundreds of mini breath strips, this toothpaste whitens and removes stains, and also fights cavities and bad breath-causing bacteria on teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums. However, this toothpaste seems to cover up bad breath, rather than knock it out at its source by targeting food particles or molecules associated with bad breath.

Best Whitening Toothpaste for Bad Breath

Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Baking Soda & Peroxide Toothpaste

View On Walmart$7 View On Target$5 View On Walgreens$10

Why We Like It: This toothpaste improves texture and whitening.

It’s Worth Noting: The flavor is unusual.

Flavor: Clean Mint

This Arm & Hammer toothpaste fights bad breath and whitens teeth in just six weeks, but gently (read: your teeth won’t feel overly sensitive or irritated after using). Baking soda helps remove soft plaque and light staining, and it also has antibacterial properties to help prevent your teeth from decay. Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient for tooth whitening. (Note that because the hydrogen peroxide is a low percentage of active ingredients, it'll take some time to see results). But if you’re picky about taste, this might not be the toothpaste for you. The flavor is slightly odd and not the minty taste you're probably used to. However, this toothpaste is a far better and safer alternative to DIY viral TikTok teeth-whitening hacks.

Best Foaming Toothpaste for Bad Breath

Aquafresh Extreme Clean Whitening Action Fluoride Toothpaste

View On Walmart$8 View On Target$8

Why We Like It: The foaming texture gives your teeth a squeaky-clean feeling.

It’s Worth Noting: This toothpaste might irritate sensitive teeth.

Flavor: Mint Blast

If you love the feeling of lathering up your teeth, this foamy toothpaste for bad breath delivers. The Aquafresh Extreme Clean active foam reaches between teeth to remove plaque and food debris and maintain good oral hygiene by killing germs, fighting plaque, and deep cleaning. The added foam also gets way back in your mouth, along your gums, and at the back of your tongue where foul-smelling bacteria can linger. However, if you have sensitive teeth, this toothpaste might be a little bit strong for you.

Best Toothpaste for Bad Breath Without Fluoride

Oxyfresh Maximum Fresh Breath Lemon Mint Toothpaste

View On Amazon$13 View On Walmart$24

Why We Like It: This toothpaste uses essential oils to hydrate and soothe your mouth.

It’s Worth Noting: This is the most expensive toothpaste on the list.

Flavor: Lemon Mint

Made without fluoride, this toothpaste fights bad breath at the source, thanks to antioxidant-packed essential oils, zinc, and oxygene (an ingredient that's essentially stabilized chlorine dioxide, which disrupts bacterial colonization and helps disinfect), which control plaque and freshen breath. Multiple customers say that their dentists actually recommended this paste specifically to treat bad breath, canker sores, and more. An independent study even found that this toothpaste has shown beneficial long-term results at helping to reduce plaque and helping to strengthen gum tissue.However, be warned: Dentists typically recommend toothpaste with fluoride in it to prevent tooth decay and other dental hygiene issues.

Best Gel Toothpaste for Bad Breath

Philips Sonicare BreathRx Whitening Toothpaste

View On Amazon$10 View On Walmart$22

Why We Like It: This toothpaste uses zinc and essential oils to fight bacteria that cause bad breath.

It’s Worth Noting: It’s on the pricier side.

Flavor: Clean Mint

Coffee fiends, this toothpaste might be the solution to your bad breath and stained teeth. Boasting a unique blend of zinc and essential oils, this toothpaste neutralizes bad breath and oral malodor, while removing stains and aiding in the prevention of dental decay. However, this toothpaste for bad breath is more expensive than other drugstore brands, and it may dry out your mouth.

What to Know About Toothpaste for Bad Breath

Causes of bad breath: For starters, there are several causes of bad breath, also known as halitosis, says Sands. First, oral health issues (think: gingivitis, periodontal disease, etc.) or gastrointestinal issues can cause an odor. Stinky breath is also a sign of dehydration. And, having a dry mouth feeds more bacteria and disrupts the oral microbiome—one common reason for mouth taping for sleep. More commonly though, your diet or oral bacteria are to blame. Smelly foods, such as onion or garlic, can leave a lingering odor in your mouth, says Sands. Beyond food, you can blame the bacteria in your mouth for bad breath.
Treatments for bad breath: To address bacteria, maintain consistent oral hygiene habits by brushing twice per day and flossing after brushing daily, as well as visiting your dentist for regular visits, says Sands. Stay hydrated and either avoid certain foods that lead bad breath altogether or brush your teeth and use mouthwash (which can also help fight cavities and bad breath) after a meal to remove the scent. If your bad breath is due to oral health or gastrointestinal issues, you'll need to address the side effect with the doctor that's managing your health concerns.
Helpful toothpaste ingredients: Toothpaste removes bad bacteria from your mouth, and this bacteria is likely the root cause of any malodorous breath. Your best toothpaste for bad breath will have fluoride, which fights bad breath by maintaining oral hygiene (think: preventing plaque buildup, cavities, and more). There are three types of fluoride approved by the FDA — stannous, sodium, and sodium monofluorophosphate — so look for a toothpaste that contains one of these, which will fight plaque buildup, cavities, and oral malodor. You might also look for toothpaste with antibacterial ingredients to destroy bacteria and maintain a healthy oral microbiome.

Why Trust Shape

Shannon Bauer is a Senior Commerce Editor for Shape with seven years of experience in the beauty and wellness industry. Bauer researched every toothpaste that claimed to fight bad breath, considered various oral hygiene needs, and consulted experts to create this list. The dentists who weighed in are also experts in their field and knowledgeable about the best toothpaste for bad breath. The dentists also gave advice on what to look for in a toothpaste to maintain oral hygiene and prevent cavities, in addition to fighting bad breath.