Chewing Gum That Actually Works For Gross Breath?

I’ve actually noticed that too—sometimes after chewing gum for a while, my mouth feels even drier than before. I think some sugar-free gums use artificial sweeteners like sorbitol or xylitol, which are supposed to help with saliva, but maybe there’s a limit to how much they can do? I’ve tried Spry and Biotène as well, and neither lasted long for me. I’m curious if it’s something to do with the gum’s base or maybe the flavorings they use. Has anyone here experimented with those gums specifically marketed for dry mouth, like ACT or OraCoat? Wondering if they’re any better or just more of the same...

I’ve actually had almost the exact same experience.

“sometimes after chewing gum for a while, my mouth feels even drier than before.”

I did give ACT dry mouth lozenges a shot (didn’t find their gum locally), and they were okay for a bit, but the effect wore off pretty quickly for me. Haven’t tried OraCoat yet—kind of skeptical because everything seems to be “just more of the same,” like you said. I’m starting to think some gums just don’t work for everyone, maybe depends on your own saliva or something.

Funny enough, regular old minty Trident works better for me than any of those specialty gums. Not perfect, but it keeps my breath decent without making things worse. Maybe it’s just about finding something that doesn’t irritate your mouth more...

I get what you’re saying about specialty gums, but honestly, I’ve had the opposite experience with some of the cheaper store brands. The “fancy” stuff didn’t do much for me either, but Extra Peppermint (just the regular kind) actually kept my mouth feeling fresher longer and didn’t dry me out as much. Maybe it’s just personal chemistry, but I’ve found that price doesn’t always mean better results... and my wallet appreciates that.

I totally hear you on the “fancy” gum hype not always living up to the price tag. My kiddo has been dealing with some breath issues (thanks to a combo of allergies and, let’s be honest, less-than-stellar brushing some days), so we’ve tried a bunch of different gums and mints over the past year.

Here’s what’s worked for us, step by step—nothing too scientific, just parent trial and error:

First, we went straight for those “special” gums with claims like “neutralizes odor” and “advanced whitening.” Some of them tasted like cleaning products or faded after about three chews. My son would spit them out before they’d done anything, so that was money down the drain.

Next, I figured maybe we were overthinking it. We grabbed a pack of Extra Peppermint (the regular one you mentioned), and honestly, it worked better than most of the fancy stuff. It didn’t dry his mouth out, which I didn’t even realize was a thing until he mentioned it felt “weird” after the other brands. Plus, it’s easy to find everywhere and doesn’t cost as much.

One thing I noticed—sometimes it’s not just about the gum itself but how often you chew it. If he pops one in after lunch or snacks, his breath stays decent for a couple hours at least. If he skips it, we’re back to square one.

I guess what I’m trying to say is: don’t sleep on the basics. Sometimes the tried-and-true brands do just as well (or better), and you don’t feel like you’re throwing away cash every week. And as a bonus, my kid actually likes the taste, so I’m not fighting him to use it.

Funny how something so simple can make such a difference. Maybe it really does come down to personal chemistry—or maybe it’s just that not all “upgrades” are worth it when you’re talking about gum. Either way, my wallet’s happier too.

don’t sleep on the basics. Sometimes the tried-and-true brands do just as well (or better)

Totally agree with this. I’ve tried some of those “advanced” gums too, and half the time they left a weird aftertaste or my mouth felt drier than before. For me, regular old Orbit or Extra is what I keep in my bag. I’ve got dry mouth from meds, so anything that doesn’t make it worse is a win.

One trick I picked up from my grandkids—chewing after meals, not just when you notice your breath is bad. It really does help, especially if you’re not always able to brush right away. Funny how the simple stuff sticks, even after all these years.