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Summertime in Colorado is synonymous with festivals of the eating, drinking, and camping variety. And all of those beer binges, chili cook-offs, and days spent in the backcountry have one seriously unpleasant side effect: bad breath.
Enter Confadent, a new gum that acts as both a breath freshener and dental health supplement. 21-year-old Colorado native Cole T. Evans developed the peppermint-flavored product as part of Trinity University’s business plan competition (he won).
Unlike sugary breath mints, conventional gum, or alcohol-based rinses—all of which dry out the mouth, which can lead to the development of plaque and gingivitis—Confadent actually helps whiten your teeth and reduce tooth and gum problems. (Sugar-free gums do increase saliva production, but they don’t treat decay.)
That’s thanks to ingredients like sodium bicarbonate, a.k.a baking soda, the antiseptic compound cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and menthol. It’s worth noting that the latter ingredient offers the unexpected bonus of stimulating temperature-sensitive receptor proteins in nerve cells, which results in a cooling sensation that also combats dry mouth.
Chemistry aside, Confadent tastes great. We road-tested it on a 20-hour train ride to California (trust us, you’ll want to avoid the tap water on Amtrak, even just to swish-and-spit), and at a booze-heavy barbecue fest in Texas, when we forgot to pack dental floss (ribs, y’all).
Confadent isn’t meant to be a substitute for regular brushing and flossing, but when you’re on the road, it’s a solid option for a quick mouth refresh. You’ll want to toss a couple of packs in your bag for all of your summer adventures.
You can find Confadent online at Confadent.com or Amazon.com.