Put Down The Mouthwash: Here’s What An MD Recommends For Bad Breath

JAMIE SCHNEIDER

IT’S A SATURDAY evening. You just finished dinner, and you’re getting cozy on the couch. Or maybe you’re getting all primed and proper for a socially distant get-together with a friend.

You release a few deep breaths, take a whiff, and, whoa, your exhales smell less than fresh. Perhaps you reach for a mouthwash for a minty-fresh feeling, or snag some toothpaste for a quick brush. 

Not so fast: According to functional medicine physician Frank Lipman, M.D., those quick fixes might not approach the actual issue at hand. Specifically, “Mouthwash is not something I would recommend,” he says on the mindbodygreen podcast. (Spoiler: It has everything to do with your gut health.) 

Put down the oral rinse, because here’s what Lipman recommends for feeling clean. 

Put down the mouthwash.

Sure, the gut microbiome has quickly made its way into everyday vernacular (at least in the health and