Do you suffer from bad breath, which is also called halitosis? There are a variety of methods to reach a mouth that feels fresh and clean.
Brush and floss your teeth more often.
The buildup on your teeth, which is called plaque, collects bacteria that can cause bad breath. Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily. If you want fresher breath, do both more often.
Rinse out your mouth.
Mouthwash freshens the breath and offers extra protection by getting rid of bacteria. Make sure that you choose a mouthwash that kills the germs that cause bad breath. Rinsing daily with a good mouthwash can stop bad breath at the source. Swishing your mouth with water after meals can also help your breath, as it gets rid of food particles that get stuck in the teeth.
Brush or scrape your tongue.
The coating that forms on the tongue can cause bad breath. Brush your tongue (back to front) with your toothbrush to get rid of the bacteria. Try a scraper if your toothbrush is too big to reach the back of your tongue. Tongue scrapers are designed to apply even pressure across the tongue, thus removing bacteria, food particles, and dead cells.
Avoid foods and beverages that cause bad breath.
The following foods and beverages cause bad breath:
• Onions
• Garlic
• Cheese
• Pastrami
• Certain spices
• Orange juice
• Soda
• Alcohol
Because these foods are absorbed into the bloodstream, brushing after you eat them doesn’t help. Bad breath will last until the culprit is no longer in the body. So, to avoid bad breath, don’t eat these foods—or at least avoid them before going to see friends.
See your dentist or doctor.
Gum disease and tooth decay cause bad breath. Our dentist can recommend treatment to correct these issues. You may also need to visit your doctor to see if there are any underlying medical reasons for your bad breath.