Bad breath is more common than you may have thought; the approximate calculation is that 1 in 4 people suffer from a form of bad breath. Based on our diets and our oral hygiene habits, we can take back control of our breath and ensure it smells fresh and clean. Here are some effective things that you can do to prevent bad breath and work towards a healthy breath.
Brush Your Teeth 2-3 Times a Day
It is imperative to the condition of your breath to brush your teeth frequently. Brush your teeth 2-3 times per day, including when you wake up, before you go to bed and in-between meals. Plaque and remnants of food can create oral health problems and perpetuate foul odours in your mouth.
Floss At Least Once Per Day
Flossing is a wonderful habit to get yourself into. If you can begin by flossing your teeth once per day – preferably right before bed you can remove undigested pieces of food that could be stuck in between your teeth and in your gums – it will go a long way in establishing fresh breath.
Scrape/Brush the Surface of Your Tongue
It is also critical to cleanse your tongue from collecting a film which is brought on by debris such as food or dead skin cells. When a film grows over your tongue, bacteria will thrive which can create a stench odour. Be sure to brush your tongue with your toothbrush, purchase a toothbrush with a tongue scraper located behind the bristles, or purchase a tongue scraper from your local pharmacy.
Make Bi-Annual Trips to Your Dentist
In most cases, an annual trip to your dentist to inspect your oral condition is fine and a great way to prevent cavities, root canals and periodontal disease. However, if you suffer from halitosis, which is the medical definition for ‘bad breath,’ making bi-annual appointments can help you maintain your bad breath and ensure you are working towards ridding the causes. Your dentist will be able to thoroughly clean your mouth as well as offer recommendations about which foods you need to eat less of (garlic, onions) and which foods you should be eating more frequently (carrots, apples).
Drink More Water
Essentially, drinking water works to produce more saliva which is used to cleanse the mouth from pieces of food and germs/bacteria. Dry mouth is a culprit of bad breath and ensuring you stay hydrated is critical for fresh breath.
Chewing Sugarless Gum Promotes Saliva flow
For this point, we recommend you chew sugarless gum because sugar can perpetuate bad breath and lead to other oral health concerns. Chewing sugarless gum supports saliva flow which is needed to combat bacteria inside your mouth.
In conclusion, by getting in the habit of brushing and flossing your teeth daily, making regular trips to the dentist, drinking more water and chewing sugarless gum, you are taking steps to prevent bad breath.