As someone who’s battled dry mouth for years—whether from long days talking on calls, certain medications, or just that annoying cotton-mouth feeling—Flintts Mints became my quick fix.
That electric sparkle and flood of saliva hit different, turning a parched mouth into something refreshed and alive. But variety matters to me, and sometimes availability or intensity pushes me to explore options.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the best alternatives I’ve tried, breaking down what makes each one stand out for saliva stimulation, dry mouth relief, and that fun tingly kick.
Alternatives To Flintts Mints
Here are the primary options we will be examining:
- Xero Picks
- TheraBreath Dry Mouth Lozenges
- Spry Xylitol Mints
- Pur Mints
- Biotene Dry Mouth Lozenges
- Ice Breakers Sours
- Stoner Mints
- Ginger Chews
Xero Picks
If you are looking for the closest experiential cousin to Flintts Mints, Xero Picks should be the first place you look.
The magic ingredient in Flintts is Spilanthes, also known as the toothache plant or Jambu.
This botanical extract creates that vibrating, electrical sensation that literally forces your salivary glands to wake up.
Well, Xero Picks uses the exact same mechanism, but they deliver it in a completely different form factor.
Instead of a dissolving tablet, these are infused toothpicks.
I found these to be fascinating because they change the ritual of consumption. With a mint, you pop it in and it is gone in a few minutes. With a toothpick, you can manipulate it in your mouth for twenty minutes or longer.
The Spilanthes extract—often listed as jambu oleoresin—is infused into the wood. As you lightly chew or suck on the wood, you get that familiar buzz and tingle. It is arguably more controllable than a mint because you can take the toothpick out if the sensation gets too strong.
From an analytical standpoint, Xero Picks are a solid choice if you need that specific “electric” stimulation to overcome severe dryness. They also contain xylitol, which acts as a secondary saliva stimulant.
However, they are not discrete in the same way a mint is. Walking around with a toothpick hanging out of your mouth sends a different social signal than dissolving a lozenge. If you are at home, they are fantastic. If you are in a board meeting, maybe not so much.
TheraBreath Dry Mouth Lozenges
Moving away from the “electric” sensation and towards a more “botanical tingles” approach, we have TheraBreath. I have used these extensively when I need to speak for long periods.
Unlike Flintts, which use the Spilanthes shock to generate moisture, TheraBreath relies on a combination of citrus, mint, and a proprietary oxygenating compound. The box claims they are “professional formula,” and honestly, they taste like it—in a good way.
The texture here is different. They are individually wrapped lozenges that have a slightly rougher surface than a standard pressed mint. When you put one in your mouth, the stimulation comes from the tartness of the mandarin mint flavor and the tingling of the zinc and oxygenating ingredients.
It is a much milder physical sensation than Spilanthes. You will not feel like your tongue is vibrating at a high frequency; you will just notice that your mouth feels naturally wetter.
One specific advantage I have noticed with TheraBreath is the longevity of the effect. Because they are designed to help with bad breath (halitosis) as well as dryness, they leave your mouth feeling clean for a long time after the lozenge is gone.
If Flintts are a sprint to instant moisture, TheraBreath is a marathon. They are excellent for the “morning breath” version of dry mouth or for keeping your mouth comfortable during a long drive.
Spry Xylitol Mints
Now we enter the realm of pure functional maintenance with Spry.
If Flintts Mints are the heavy artillery for acute cottonmouth, Spry mints are the daily peacekeepers.
The primary engine here is xylitol. If you are unfamiliar with xylitol, it is a natural sugar alcohol derived from plant fibers.
Chemically, it looks like sugar to your tongue, but your body does not process it the same way, and crucially, bacteria cannot feed on it.
The way Spry works is simple: the sweetness hits your tongue, signaling your brain that food is present.
Your brain responds by activating the salivary glands. It is a biological reflex. Because xylitol has a distinct cooling effect when it dissolves, you get a refreshing wash of cool moisture.
I keep a tub of these in my car. They are small, round, and hard.
Comparing them to Flintts, Spry mints lack the “wow” factor. There is no buzz, no tingle, no shock. It is a very passive form of relief. However, this is their greatest strength. You can chain-eat Spry mints all day without burning out your taste buds.
If you are dealing with chronic dry mouth where you need constant relief every thirty minutes, Flintts might become overwhelming or too expensive. Spry is affordable and gentle enough for high-frequency use. Plus, dentists love them because xylitol actually helps prevent cavities by stopping bacteria from sticking to your teeth.
Pur Mints
Pur occupies a similar space to Spry but with a focus on larger, more flavorful distinct profiles. I find Pur mints to be slightly softer and more powdery as they break down compared to the hard shell of a Spry mint.
They are also 100% xylitol-sweetened, meaning they trigger that same salivation reflex without the sugar crash or dental decay risks.
The reason I list Pur separately is the flavor variety and availability. You can often find these in the checkout line at grocery stores, making them a convenient grab-and-go alternative.
The “Tangerine Tango” flavor is particularly good if you want to mimic the sour stimulation of some of the fruitier Flintts varieties. The citrus acid in the tangerine flavor adds a second layer of stimulation on top of the xylitol sweetness.
I do find that Pur mints dissolve faster than Spry or Flintts. If you are looking for something to last you through a twenty-minute dry spell, you might need two or three of these. But for a quick refresh before a conversation, they are effective.
They are the “everyman” choice—unassuming, effective, and safe for almost anyone to use, provided you keep them away from dogs (xylitol is toxic to canines, a vital fact to remember if you are a pet owner).
Biotene Dry Mouth Lozenges
If you go to a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist what to buy for dry mouth, they will almost certainly point you to Biotene.
This is the clinical standard.
Biotene products are formulated specifically for people who suffer from Xerostomia (chronic dry mouth), often due to medication side effects or autoimmune issues.
The experience of a Biotene lozenge is unique. It feels less like a candy and more like a therapeutic device.
The flavor is usually a very mild, sweet mint that is not overpowering. The texture is incredibly smooth.
What sets Biotene apart is that it often includes a lubricant system—usually a combination of polymers—that coats the mucosal lining of the mouth.
When I use Flintts, the moisture comes from my own glands flushing the mouth. When I use Biotene, the moisture feels like it is being supplemented by the lozenge itself. It creates a silky film that helps the tongue glide against the roof of the mouth.
If your dry mouth is so severe that it is painful—where your tissues feel raw—Flintts might actually be too irritating because of the Spilanthes spice. Biotene is the soothing balm. It calms the mouth while hydrating it. It is not “fun” or “cool” in the marketing sense, but it is incredibly effective for pain relief associated with dryness.
Ice Breakers Sours
Sometimes the best alternative is just a standard candy that accidentally works really well. Ice Breakers Sours are not marketed as dry mouth products, and they certainly do not have fancy botanical extracts like Spilanthes.
However, they are covered in “flavor crystals” which are essentially sour acid boosters.
Sourness is one of the most potent triggers for salivation. Think about biting into a lemon slice; your jaw aches just imagining it. Ice Breakers Sours leverage this aggressively. The moment you put one in your mouth, the sour coating hits, and your glands instantly fire.
I include these as an alternative because they are accessible everywhere. If you are out and about and hit with a sudden case of cottonmouth, you can walk into any gas station and find these. They work fast.
The downside, analytically speaking, is the ingredient profile. They usually contain aspartame or other artificial sweeteners, and the high acidity can be tough on tooth enamel if you use them constantly all day long. They are a great emergency backup, but perhaps not the best holistic daily solution compared to xylitol options.
Stoner Mints
You might see products literally labeled “Stoner Mints” in novelty shops or online.
I felt it was important to include these to manage your expectations.
Despite the name suggesting they are the perfect antidote for the cottonmouth associated with cannabis use, most of these are novelty items.
I have examined the ingredients on several tins of these types of mints.
The vast majority are standard dextrose-based compressed sugar candies with peppermint flavoring. They function exactly like a standard Altoid or breath mint.
They will stimulate a little bit of saliva simply because you are sucking on something sweet and minty, but they lack the functional mechanism of Spilanthes (Flintts) or high-dose Xylitol (Spry).
They are fun gifts and the tins are often collectible, but if you are looking for a high-performance alternative to the intense watering effect of Flintts, these will likely disappoint you. They are style over substance.
Do not be fooled by the branding; check the label. If you do not see xylitol, spilanthes, or a specific enzyme complex, it is just candy.
Ginger Chews
Finally, let us look at a completely natural route. Ginger chews (like the ones made by Chimes or The Ginger People) are a fascinating alternative. Ginger is a sialogogue—a substance that stimulates the flow of saliva. It also has a “burn” that acts somewhat similarly to the tingle of Spilanthes, although it is a heat rather than a vibration.
When you chew on a sticky ginger candy, the mechanical action of chewing combined with the spicy heat of the ginger root causes a massive release of saliva. I find this to be one of the most effective natural remedies. The effect lingers, too, because the warmth stays in your throat and mouth for a while.
The texture is chewy and sticky, which might be a negative if you have dental work like fillings or crowns that could be pulled out. However, for a raw, organic experience that wakes up your mouth and settles your stomach (a nice bonus), ginger chews are a powerhouse. They are particularly good if you want to avoid artificial sweeteners entirely.
Also Read: Alternatives To Cedar Breather.
Comparison of Sensation
To help you visualize how these feel compared to Flintts, I categorize them by “Mouth Feel”:
- Flintts: Electric vibration, sparkling, tingling, flooding.
- Xero Picks: Woodsy, buzzing, controllable tingle.
- TheraBreath: Tingly mint, clean, oxygenated, cool.
- Xylitol (Spry/Pur): Cold, watery, sweet, smooth.
- Biotene: Silky, coated, soothing, mild.
- Ice Breakers: Sharp, sour spike, acidic, aggressive.
- Ginger Chews: Hot, spicy, sticky, heavy flow.
Selecting Your Alternative
When I choose between these, I look at my context. If I am at home and want something that lasts a long time while I am watching a movie, I reach for a Xero Pick. The toothpick form factor is great for casual lounging.
If I am heading into a meeting and my mouth is dry from coffee and nerves, I grab a Spry or Pur mint because they are discreet and freshen my breath without making me look like I am eating candy.
If I am dealing with the specific “cottonmouth” from smoking or vaping, the Ginger Chews or Ice Breakers Sours often cut through that sticky feeling better than the mild xylitol mints. The aggression of the sour or spice helps break up the mucus.
And if I were dealing with medical dry mouth where my tongue hurt, I would skip the fun stuff and go straight for Biotene.
It is also worth noting the cost per serving. Flintts are a premium product. They come in fancy tins and cost a fair bit per mint. Xylitol mints are incredibly cheap when bought in bulk tubs.
You can get hundreds of Spry mints for the price of one or two tins of Flintts. If you are a heavy user, the economics of the xylitol alternatives are hard to ignore.
The Role of Ingredients
I want to touch briefly on why avoiding sugar is so critical here. When your mouth is dry, you lack the saliva to wash away sugars and acids. Saliva is your mouth’s natural defense system; it remineralizes teeth and neutralizes acid.
If you have dry mouth and you suck on sugary hard candies (like standard peppermints) to fix it, you are essentially marinating your teeth in sugar without the protective buffer of saliva. This is a recipe for rapid tooth decay.
This is why I heavily favor the xylitol and sucralose (Flintts uses sucralose) or stevia options. Xylitol is actually “anti-cariogenic,” meaning it fights cavities. It reduces the levels of mutans streptococci (bad bacteria) in plaque.
So, while Xero Picks and Flintts use Spilanthes for the sensation, the sweeteners they use (xylitol in Xero, sucralose in Flintts) are chosen carefully to ensure they do not rot your teeth while you are trying to hydrate your gums.
Also Read: Is OxyFit Breath Trainer Worth It?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, Walmart sells Flintts Mints online through their marketplace, and availability in physical stores varies by location, though they are often found in the specialty or pharmacy sections if stocked.
Mints containing Spilanthes extract (like Flintts), xylitol (like Spry and Pur), or sour acids (like Ice Breakers Sours) are the most effective at stimulating saliva production.
People buy them primarily to combat “cottonmouth” caused by cannabis use, medication side effects, or general dehydration, and for the unique “sparkling” or electric sensation they provide.
The main functional ingredient responsible for the mouth-watering effect is Spilanthes flower extract (often listed as Jambu oleoresin), combined with non-GMO isomalt and sucralose for sweetness.
Final Thoughts
I’ve tried many options over time, and while Flintts holds a special place for that unmatched sparkle, these alternatives bring their own strengths. You might prefer TheraBreath’s close similarity, Xero Picks’ variety, or XyliMelts’ overnight power, depending on your needs.
Experimenting helped me find what fits different moments—quick bursts, sustained relief, or pure intensity. Whatever causes your dry mouth, one of these could become your reliable solution.
Here’s to staying refreshed and comfortable.