How to Fight Bad Breath
Smile! More than 80 million people suffer from chronic halitosis, or bad breath.
Bad breath can be very embarrassing, but it is a common condition and there are numerous ways to prevent it. Following these tips can help you fight bad breath as well as keep your mouth healthy on a daily basis.
9 Ways To Get Rid of Bad Breath
It’s easy to improve your breath and keep your teeth and gums healthy at the same time.
Try these 9 simple steps to make your mouth feel fresh and clean.
1. Brush and floss more often.
Plaque, the sticky buildup on your teeth, collects bacteria that cause bad breath. Trapped food also adds to the problem. Brush your teeth at least two times each day, and floss at least once.
2. Rinse out your mouth.
Besides freshening your breath, a mouthwash adds extra protection by getting rid of bacteria. A fresh minty taste can make you feel good. Rinse daily with a good mouthwash.
3. Scrape your tongue.
The coating that normally forms on your tongue can be a host for smelly bacteria. To get rid of them, gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush, or you can try a scraper!
4. Avoid certain foods.
Onions and Garlic are BIG offenders. The substances that cause their bad smells make their way into your bloodstream and travel to your lungs, where you breathe them out.
5. Stop smoking.
Besides causing cancer, smoking can damage your gums, stain your teeth, and give you bad breath.
6. Try sugar-free gum.
Skip the mints and chew sugar-free gum instead. The bacteria in your mouth love sugar. They use it to make acid. This wears down your teeth and causes bad breath.
7. Keep your gums healthy.
Gum disease causes bad breath. Bacteria gather in pockets at the base of teeth, which creates an odor.
8. Moisten your mouth.
You can get tooth decay and bad breath if you don’t make enough saliva. If your mouth is dry, drink plenty of water during the day. Gum helps too (sugar-free)!
9. Come see us!
If your bad breath continues despite your best efforts, make an appointment with your dentist. They’ll check to see if your problems are related to a medical condition.
