Bad breath can strike anyone, anytime — even if you're keeping up with your brushing and flossing. While chewing gum will stimulate more salivary flow and help prevent tooth decay in addition to freshening you up, sometimes the situation calls for something a little more discreet. (Smacking on gum to combat coffee breath in a meeting? Yeah, that's a no go.)

When you're stocking up on mints, stick to the sugar-free kind to help protect your teeth from cavities and prevent unintended bad breath later on. The bacteria-causing odor will actually feed on the sweetener, according to Colgate, meaning that after the minty flavors fade, the smell could return full-force.

That said, if you're popping sugar-free mints all day and notice some tummy trouble (think bloating and gas) scan the label for sugar alcohols like xylitol, mannitol, maltitol, and other ingredients ending in "—ol."

"They can cause GI symptoms when consumed in large amounts," says Good Housekeeping Nutrition Director Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, "and mints can add up over the course of your day."

With that in mind, check out these best-selling and top-rated sugar-free breath mints on Amazon for a quick boost.


Altoid Smalls Peppermint Breath Mints

Altoids Smalls Peppermint Breath Mints (Pack of 9)

Altoids Smalls Peppermint Breath Mints (Pack of 9)

Altoids Smalls Peppermint Breath Mints (Pack of 9)

$11 at Amazon$15 at Walmart

Unlike the originals, these compact tins use sorbitol in place of sugar and come in a more pocket-friendly size. If you're not a peppermint fan, the wintergreen, cinnamon, and spearmint flavors have got your back.

Top Amazon Review: "The mints are small, but incredibly powerful. The sweetness is light, but just right. My mints arrived fresh and potent and the sweetener they use doesn't impact my blood sugar at all."


Ice Breakers Sugar-Free Mints

Ice Breakers Sugar Free Mints (Pack of 8)

Ice Breakers Sugar Free Mints (Pack of 8)

Ice Breakers Sugar Free Mints (Pack of 8)

Amazon customers are partial to the spicy-hot cinnamon, but these flip-top containers also dispense sour and fruity-minty options.

Top Amazon Review: "I have been trying to cut out on eating large amount of sweets as I snack throughout the day. Largely because that's how I run, I snack. A few months ago, I found the Cinnamon Ice Breakers (I have a strong cinnamon tooth) and I was hooked."


Sugar-Free Life Savers

Life Savers Pep O Mint Sugar-Free Candy (Pack of 12)

Life Savers Pep O Mint Sugar-Free Candy (Pack of 12)

Life Savers Pep O Mint Sugar-Free Candy (Pack of 12)

Keeping a bowl of these guys at your desk is sure to make you the most popular person in the office. Just watch out: Constantly popping the sorbitol-sweetened rings can upset your stomach.

Top Amazon Review: "Because of medicines giving me dry mouth, my dentist said eat sugar-free hard candies. These come in smaller bags with each piece individually wrapped. Perfect for keeping small bags around and individual ones in a purse or pockets. Plus, they taste great."


Sencha Naturals Green Tea Mints

Sencha Naturals Green Tea Mints

Sencha Naturals Green Tea Mints

Sencha Naturals Green Tea Mints

Made with matcha and green tea, Sencha Naturals claim to "fight dragon breath!" and offer some unusual flavors you won't find at the convenience store: Moroccan mint, tropical mango, pink dragon fruit, Bombay chai, yuzu ginger, island guava, and cherry blossom. So if you're going to find a favorite (and qualify for Prime shipping!), you might as well order the variety pack.

Top Amazon Review: "I first bought these in a little specialty shop when on vacation, and I loved the flavor. They are great breath mints without having a strong minty flavor. I was so glad to find them on Amazon when I ran out!"


Altoids Arctic Breath Mints

Altoids Arctic Peppermint Breath Mints (Pack of 8)

Altoids Arctic Peppermint Breath Mints (Pack of 8)

Altoids Arctic Peppermint Breath Mints (Pack of 8)

With a "curiously cool" flavor that's stronger than the traditional peppermint Altoids, this one's for people who like candies that pack a punch.

Top Amazon Review: "I'm quite addicted to these things. I go through a ton of them because now everyone in my family holds out their hands whenever I open the tin — which is often. It's a strong mint with no sugar and tastes amazing. They're just the right amount of hardness so they either dissolve slowly or can be crunched without breaking my teeth."


Breath Savers Sugar Free Mints

Breath Savers Sugar Free Mints (Pack of 24)

Breath Savers Sugar Free Mints (Pack of 24)

Breath Savers Sugar Free Mints (Pack of 24)

These aren't Life Savers — they're Breath Savers, and sometimes they'll help you save face when you need to slip a mint on the sly. Fans especially appreciate the "sneakability factor" of the compact roll packaging.

Top Amazon Review: "Now there are many mints I like very much. But more and more of them are coming in those big plastic containers. Those make too much noise, aren't that easy to hide in your pocket, and make it difficult to not let the person you're with not know you're sneaking a mint. Sometimes you need an old-school pack of mints to hide in your pocket."


PUR Aspartame Free Mints

PUR Aspartame Free Mints (Pack of 5)

PUR Aspartame Free Mints (Pack of 5)

PUR Aspartame Free Mints (Pack of 5)

Looking to mix it up from classic mint? The tangerine tango and mojito lime flavors — all aspartame-free — will make your evening commute feel slightly more tropical.

Top Amazon Review: "The taste is great and I love the xylitol sweetener. I put mine in a tin but they come in a resealable bag. I have them on auto-ship now!"


Mentos NOWMint Tin

Mentos NOWMint Tin (Pack of 12)

Mentos NOWMint Tin (Pack of 12)

Mentos NOWMint Tin (Pack of 12)

The original mint Mentos contain 2 grams of sugar each — and it's all too easy to polish off an entire roll at once. These slash the sugar content to zero thanks to xylitol.

Top Amazon Review: "Love these mints because they're not too sweet and don't have that overpowering mint flavor like some others do. In other words, they have a perfect, mild minty flavor. I should also note that they are NOT chewy in the middle like other Mentos. They are hard through and through."

Headshot of Caroline Picard
Caroline Picard
Contributing Writer

Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.