Bad Breath Products

Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. The usual culprit? Bacteria forming and getting trapped on your teeth, gums, and tongue. That bacteria produces foul-smelling compounds and that’s why you can have bad breath.

Brushing and flossing are great, but they don’t reach everywhere. Mouthwashes like LISTERINE® target odor-causing bacteria left behind. Use it twice daily as part of the brush, floss, LISTERINE® routine to fight halitosis and freshen breath.

Bad breath can be caused by many things. It can be caused by bacteria, dry mouth, gum disease, certain foods, smoking and tobacco use, and some medical conditions.

Tonsil stones (tonsilloliths) can be a hidden source of bad breath. Symptoms of tonsil stones include bad breath, throat irritation, cough, ear pain, and a feeling of something stuck in the back of the throat.

Our recommendation is to keep it simple:

• Brush for 2 minutes, twice a day.

• Floss once daily.

• Rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash like LISTERINE® to hit the spots brushing misses.

This 3-step routine tackles halitosis at its source — bacteria growth — and leaves you with fresh breath.

Our top picks: LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, COOL MINT®, and FRESHBURST®. Each formula uses four essential oils to fight odor-causing bacteria and freshen breath when used twice daily.

LISTERINE® mouthwash does more than cover up odors. Using a mouthwash can help prevent bad breath. LISTERINE® mouthwash contains four essential oils — menthol, thymol, eucalyptol, and methyl salicylate — which help kill bad breath germs.