It’s always embarrassing if someone mentions to you that your breath is a little far from fresh smelling. Bad breath is not only terrible for social events, but it can leave you feeling like your mouth is always dirty. While persistent and ongoing bad breath could be a sign of gum disease or tooth decay and should be checked out by a dentist, occasional bad breath can be caused by multiple things and there are steps you can take to avoid it. In this article I’ll discuss some of the top tips and methods you can use in your everyday life to keep your mouth healthy and smelling fresh.
Quit Tobacco
Most people have heard that kissing a smoker has a bad taste to non-smokers, and there is some truth to that opinion. Smoking, in addition to the various other health issues it can cause, can not only cause bad breath but it can also damage your gums and stain your teeth. The same also applies to chewing tobacco, which can most certainly lead to bad breath and even mouth cancer. If you’re a smoker you should consider cutting back or preferably quitting altogether which can be done with the help of nicotine patches or an electronic cigarette.
Prevent Dry Mouth
Saliva serves as your mouth’s natural defense mechanism so it’s important to avoid dry mouth if you want to avoid bad breath. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking the recommended minimum amount of water (eight glasses which are eight ounces each). In addition to this, avoid food or drinks that are known to cause dry mouth, especially coffee or anything with caffeine in it which is known to cause dry mouth.
Use Proper Oral Hygiene
Sometimes bad breath is caused by old gunk in your teeth, so it’s vital that you’re following the proper procedures to keep your teeth clean. Obviously you should be brushing and flossing multiple times a day, but mouth wash is a great pick me up for your breath. While you shouldn’t rely on it or use it to replace brushing, mouth wash can leave your breath fresh and feeling clean in the morning.
Avoid Bad Foods
You should already have an idea of what foods you should avoid if you don’t have bad breath. Besides offenders with a strong natural odor such as onions, garlic, and fish you should also avoid foods that are generally unhealthy for your teeth such as candy and ice cream. If you eat too many bad foods they can turn into plaque or cause gum disease, both of which cause bad breath.
Well there you have it, most of these tips should be easy to follow and all of these are things we should be doing anyway. If you already follow all these tips and still have constant bad breath you should book an appointment with your dentist and make sure it’s nothing serious. And hey, you could always carry some breath spray on you in case of emergency…