# Does all gum you can buy at a store "freshen breath"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-all-gum-you-can-buy-at-a-store-freshen-breath/955533>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 5, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-all-gum-you-can-buy-at-a-store-freshen-breath/955533 "2021-12-05T03:41:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-all-gum-you-can-buy-at-a-store-freshen-breath/955533/1 "2021-12-05T03:41:32Z")

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So for example if I buy Juicy Fruit will it make my breath smell just as good as if I used Double Mint, or does ONLY gum that has the word “mint” in it freshen breath?

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**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-all-gum-you-can-buy-at-a-store-freshen-breath/955533/2 "2021-12-05T04:16:01Z")

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The saliva that’s stimulated by gum-chewing and swallowed does the breath freshening. The gum flavor just masks it.

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**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-all-gum-you-can-buy-at-a-store-freshen-breath/955533/3 "2021-12-05T17:14:54Z")

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> [@Slithy\_Tove](#):
>
> The saliva that’s stimulated by gum-chewing and swallowed does the breath freshening.

This is also good for mild heartburn. If you feel it coming on, you can nip it in the bud by chewing gum.