6 Ways to Help Bad Breath

Bad Breath Compressed

Bad breath can be embarrassing and leave a negative impression on those you meet. Bad breath, or Halitosis, is more serious than just one’s regular morning breath, as it lingers throughout the day. There are changes to habits, methods and foods that can reduce the prominence of bad breath in your life, in order to help you regain confidence and avoid awkward future situations. It may take more than a mint, so here are our top ways to help with bad breath.

1 Change up your food

The foods that you put in your mouth have major effects on bacteria and odour. Increasing your intake of probiotics, such as yogurt, can benefit your breath. This is because the healthy bacteria found in probiotics can combat the bad bacteria in your gut. Raw foods such as carrots, apples and celery, have natural compounds which neutralise foul-smelling odours from foods like garlic and onion. Another natural antibacterial remedy is green tea, which results in a nicer-smelling breath. Even having an empty stomach can increase acids which rise, leading to bad breath in your mouth. Foods and drinks to avoid include coffee, garlic and anything that upsets your stomach.

 2 Keep a Hydrated Mouth

A hydrated mouth is essential for avoiding bad breath. Having a high intake of water, especially after meals can wash away leftover food particles in your mouth. Saliva production is also essential, as your mouth becomes particularly dry at night which is the major cause of morning breath. Water is specifically needed in the morning to replenish the saliva production. On the other hand, drinks to avoid include alcohol and coffee which reduce the production of saliva in the mouth due to their diuretic effect. When there is less saliva in the mouth, the bacterias that create odour can thrive.

3 Tongue Scrapping

Tongue scrapping has many benefits, including the reduction of bad breath. It is not a regular part of most individuals’ mouth cleaning routine but it should be incorporated. Effectively, it lowers the concentration of Sulphur compounds, Lactobacilli and scrapes away leftover food particles which lead to bad breath. Using a tongue scraper or a toothbrush specifically in the morning to clean your tongue can tackle the bacteria that builds up overnight. Additionally, a tongue scraper improves the appearance of your tongue as it removes the white film called mucus, which is also connected to emitting a foul smell.  An important point to note is that you should not press too hard with the tongue scraper, or you will risk harm to your tongue.

4 Update Your Cleaning Habits

Brushing your teeth at least two times a day is pivotal, not only for reducing bad breath but additionally for preventing the tooth decay process which also emits a foul smell.  A toothbrush should be replaced after two months, to prevent adding old bad bacterias back into your mouth. Some people believe their mouth cleaning process is efficient enough as it is, so they avoid flossing and mouth wash. This misses large amounts of bacteria in the mouth which leads to continuous bad breath. When looking for an effective mouthwash, find one that is antibacterial with zinc and avoid alcohol. Homemade mouthwash can also be created with vinegar as it contains acetic acid which prevents the growth of bacteria. Baking soda and warm water is also popular as a home remedy for killing mouth bacteria, thus curing bad breath.

5 Visit the Dentist

Visiting a dentist, such as Putney Dental, is important at least twice a year to ensure that your bad breath is not a result of any more serious mouth issues. This also gives the opportunity for a professional clean, particularly in hard to reach places that cleaning alone can miss. Braces or dentures can also increase the number of food particles stuck in your mouth which feeds bacteria.

 6 Not Just Any Gum

Finally, sugarless mints and gum can be a quick fix for bad breath. However, most people have sugar versions of gum, whereby the bacteria have extra sugars to burn which is another cause of bad breath. Chewing gum can also make your mouth produce more saliva to fight bad breath, as your mouth is tricked into thinking you are eating.

Together, these tips can reduce your bad breath, allowing you to get on with your daily activities without embarrassment or paranoia. Trying to eat differently, visiting the dentist and adjusting your mouth cleaning routine will make significant changes to your bad breath.

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