Best Tea for Bad Breath: 3 Options to Try

Green tea, peppermint tea, and black tea are three options for bad breath, with green tea having the most direct, though limited, evidence. The ai symptom analyzer can help you organize symptoms, but it cannot diagnose the cause of bad breath.

Tea is one of several best drinks for bad breath, but it is not a substitute for cleaning your teeth and tongue or addressing an underlying problem. Choose an unsweetened tea you enjoy, and treat any improvement as potentially temporary.

Which 3 teas are best for bad breath?

Green tea is the strongest choice of the three because it has been studied directly for bad breath, although much of that research concerns preparations other than a brewed drink. Peppermint tea may cover odor briefly with its aroma, while black tea is another unsweetened option with no established benefit for bad breath.

Bad breath often starts in the mouth, where bacteria break down material and produce smelly sulfur compounds. Food debris, gum problems and a dry mouth can contribute, so a pleasant-tasting drink alone may not address the source.

1. Green tea

Why try it: Green tea contains polyphenols called catechins, which may affect some of the bacteria involved in mouth odor. Drinking it also puts liquid in contact with the mouth, although that does not establish how much brewed green tea reduces bad breath or how long any effect lasts.

How strong is the evidence? A 2018 systematic review of green tea and bad breath found two eligible clinical studies. Both reported an early improvement compared with baseline; one also reported a longer-term effect from green tea mouthwash. That is limited evidence, and a mouthwash result should not be assumed to apply to an ordinary cup of tea.

A separate clinical study of dissolvable oral films tested a product containing both green tea extract and resveratrol. The results cannot show whether green tea alone was responsible, and the film was not brewed green tea. Neither study establishes that a particular brewing method will prevent bad breath.

How to brew it:

• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) loose green tea
• 1 cup (240 mL) hot water

1. Add the green tea to a cup or infuser.
2. Pour in the water and steep for 2–3 minutes.
3. Remove the leaves, let the tea cool to a comfortable temperature and drink it unsweetened.

Cautions: Green tea usually contains caffeine, although the amount varies. Choose a decaffeinated version if caffeine bothers you, and ask a clinician about regular use if you take warfarin or have been told to watch your caffeine intake.

2. Peppermint tea

Why try it: Peppermint tea has a minty aroma that may make the mouth feel fresher and briefly mask bad breath. It is an herbal infusion rather than a tea made from the tea plant, and it is naturally caffeine-free when made from peppermint alone.

How strong is the evidence? Research has not established that drinking peppermint tea reduces the bacteria or sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath. A fresher taste is not proof that the underlying odor has been eliminated, and the effect may fade once the mint flavor disappears.

How to brew it:

• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) dried peppermint leaves
• 1 cup (240 mL) hot water

1. Place the peppermint leaves in a cup or infuser.
2. Pour in the water and steep for 5 minutes.
3. Strain the leaves, let the tea cool to a comfortable temperature and drink it without added sugar.

Cautions: Peppermint may aggravate acid reflux in some people, so skip it if it makes your symptoms worse. Check the ingredients on a commercial blend: a peppermint-flavored product may contain caffeinated tea or other herbs, rather than peppermint alone.

3. Black tea

Why try it: Black tea comes from the same plant as green tea and also contains tea polyphenols, although processing changes their composition. An unsweetened cup is a flavorful alternative to a sugary drink; the liquid may also help wash away some loose food particles.

How strong is the evidence? The green tea review does not establish that black tea improves bad breath. There is no direct clinical evidence for brewed black tea among the studies listed here, so do not assume its polyphenols will have the same effect as green tea preparations. It is an option to drink, not a proven breath treatment.

How to brew it:

• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) loose black tea
• 1 cup (240 mL) hot water

1. Put the black tea in a cup or infuser.
2. Pour in the water and steep for 3–5 minutes.
3. Remove the leaves, let the tea cool to a comfortable temperature and drink it unsweetened.

Cautions: Black tea usually contains caffeine and can stain teeth. If it makes you jittery or disrupts sleep, choose a decaffeinated version or another option; decaffeinated tea can still contain some caffeine.

Which teas should you avoid for bad breath?

Avoid relying on heavily sweetened tea or bottled tea with added sugar as a breath remedy. Sugar can feed mouth bacteria and contribute to tooth decay, which can create more oral health problems. Check the label on bottled drinks, since a tea that tastes mild may still have added sugar.

Avoid tea that is uncomfortably hot, too. Letting it cool makes it more comfortable to drink and avoids burning your mouth. Adding strongly flavored ingredients may change the taste of your breath for a short time, but it does not make a tea a treatment for persistent odor.

If caffeinated tea leaves your mouth feeling uncomfortable or interferes with sleep, choose a caffeine-free option or have water instead. Caffeinated tea still contributes fluid; it should not automatically be considered dehydrating. If citrus additions irritate sensitive teeth or worsen reflux, leave them out.

No tea replaces brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth daily and gently cleaning the tongue. Clean removable dentures as directed as well. These steps address material that can accumulate in the mouth rather than simply covering its smell.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

People with reflux may find peppermint makes symptoms worse. If you take warfarin or other medicines, ask your clinician or pharmacist about regular herbal or green tea use, particularly if you plan to change how much you drink; do not stop prescribed medicine because of bad breath. During pregnancy, and when offering tea to children, ask a clinician about caffeine and the suitability of herbal ingredients.

See a dentist if bad breath persists despite consistent mouth care, or if you have bleeding gums, tooth pain or loose teeth. A dentist can look for oral causes and recommend appropriate care. If your dentist does not find a cause, or you also have persistent dry mouth or symptoms outside the mouth, contact a medical clinician; medicines and medical conditions can sometimes contribute.

Seek prompt medical or dental care for facial swelling, fever or significant mouth pain. If swelling makes it difficult to swallow or breathe, seek emergency care.