Bad breath remains an ongoing problem for many men and women (and boys & girls) across the globe. Fortunately, developing good oral health habits at a young age can help you minimize the risk of bad breath, along with ensure you can enjoy a clean, healthy smile for years to come.
Ready to eliminate bad breath? Here are four tips to guarantee you can prevent this problem:
- Brush and floss your teeth and your tongue regularly.
Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can make a world of difference for those who want to eliminate bad breath.
Spending at least two minutes twice a day brushing your teeth and your tongue ensures you can remove plaque and food particles with ease. Meanwhile, flossing your teeth allows you to eliminate hidden plaque and food particles, while using an appropriate non-alcoholic mouthwash (so it doesn’t dry out your mouth) will help you further combat bad breath as well.
- Stay hydrated.
Drink a lot of sugary or caffeinated beverages? If so, you may become dehydrated, which could lead to bad breath.
Typically, sugary drinks or beverages with high caffeine levels cause odorous bacteria in the mouth to reproduce more rapidly. But if you drink plenty of water throughout the day, you’ll promote saliva production and be better equipped to fight back against bacteria consistently.
- Avoid foods that are commonly associated with bad breath.
Onions, garlic and other foods boast distinct flavors; on the other hand, these foods may leave you with bad breath that is tough to overcome.
Meals like tacos and pizza frequently contain onions and garlic that release pungent oils after they are digested. Then, these oils are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the lungs, and as such, may cause bad breath.
When it comes to enjoying your favorite dishes that include onions, garlic and other foods that cause bad breath, moderation is key. And when in doubt, feel free to brush and floss after meals and use mouthwash to help freshen your breath.
- Chew sugarless gum.
Like water, sugarless gum (try one with Xylitol) stimulates saliva production, ensuring you’re better equipped to minimize food particles in your mouth.
Of course, be sure to avoid gum that contains sugar. By doing so, you won’t have to worry about a sugary residue being left in your mouth that otherwise may cause various oral health issues to arise.
Use these tips to combat bad breath, and you’ll be able to reap the benefits of fresh breath for an extended period of time.
