Bad breath can be offensive and can slowly turn you into a social recluse. Not only that, it can become embarrassing because people start avoiding you like the plague. There is nothing worse than a foul smelling mouth because it reflects very poorly on your personal hygiene. By practicing good oral hygiene and following these steps, you can make your breath smell good. Here are some ways to do so.
Ways to Make Your Breath Smell Fresh
Clean Your Mouth Thoroughly
Make it a practice to diligently clean your mouth twice a day. Just brushing your teeth superficially with toothpaste is not enough. A toothbrush cannot reach hidden crannies and crevasses and hence your mouth needs a more intensive cleaning. Make sure you use a good tongue cleaner to take off debris that is stuck to your tongue.
Coffee and tea can leave bad stains on the tongue and make your breath smell foul. Similarly, use a good dental floss to take out tiny food particles stuck in between the teeth. This also prevents the build up of plaque that may attach itself to the teeth. Rinse your mouth after a meal with a good mouthwash. This will leave your breath sweet smelling at all times.
Prevent a Dry Mouth
A dry mouth is a smelly and foul smelling mouth. This is because saliva produces enzymes that not only keep the mouth hydrated but also keep bacteria at bay. Chew on some sugarless gum to increase saliva production.
The gum will have a minty flavour that will keep your mouth smelling fresh all day. Similarly, drink plenty of water throughout the day as water washes off all food residues that could lead to bad breath.
Certain medications like very strong antibiotics can leave your mouth excessively dry. The medicines too can leave a foul and pungent odour behind. If you are facing such a problem with your medication, make sure you speak to your doctor and have him recommend another medicine to you.
Look for Special Chewing Gum
Certain chewing gums do a better job at making your mouth smell good. Have chewing gums, which are laced with a flavour of cinnamon as they keep your breath smelling fresh for hours. Always go in for sugar free gum as it helps to maintain your daily intake of calories.
Eat more of Juicy Fruits
Eat juicy fruits like apples and pears. They help to flush out and eliminate annoying bacteria stuck to your teeth, which may cause bad breath. Have a crunchy apple an hour or so after your meal to help keep your breath sweet smelling.
Cavities are the biggest culprits when it comes to foul smelling breath. Make sure you address cavities by showing yourself to a good doctor.
The dentist may place a dental filling or do a root canal treatment on the cavity in order to address the issue of foul or bad smelling breath.
Avoid Certain Foods
Certain foods like garlic, onions, eggs, chocolates, cheese, meat, fish and poultry make your breath smell bad. It is better to eat such foods in strict moderation. Try to eat plenty of leafy green salads and fruits, which are non-acidic in nature and will not leave a pungent after smell in your mouth.
Treat the Cough
If you have a severe throat infection, cough or tonsils, have it treated right away. This is because tonsils can cause you to choke up tonsil stones that can leave your mouth with a very putrid odour. If you have a throat infection, have it treated right away.
Visit the Dentist Twice a Year
Make sure that you visit a dentist at least twice in a year.
He/she will clean your teeth, inspect them and remove plaque that could be causing bad or foul smelling breath. Do not skip on your annual dental visits.
Brush with Baking Soda
Add a pinch of baking soda to your mouth. It will help to balance out the pH level in your mouth and will prevent the bacteria from festering in your mouth. Do this every morning after you get up and at night just before hitting the bed. There are chances that you will have a clean smelling mouth all day.
Always scrape your tongue well. The scraping motion should be carried out back to front so that the trapped food particles are pushed out of the mouth. This is an effective way of preventing bad breath.
Avoid Smoking and Chewing on Tobacco
Tobacco chewing and smoking can leave you with a perennially bad breath. Not only will it lead to dental decay, but you will also suffer from a bad case of halitosis.
Alcohol stinks like no other. Your mouth will smell bad for hours after consuming alcohol. If you must, make sure you brush well and use a good mouthwash after consuming alcohol.
Address Bronchitis and Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to a putrid and offensive smell in the mouth. This happens very often in a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. People who suffer from chronic bronchitis also have a problem. This happens when the mucous that is foul smelling gets trapped behind the mouth. Your best bet is to have these medical conditions remedied as soon as possible.
Eat a Balanced Diet
If your diet is healthy and balanced, you will automatically nip a lot of problems in the bud. Eat fruits, vegetables and stay away from refined, processed and sugary foods, which produce acids and eventually lead to bad breath and halitosis. Drink water after every meal to ensure that all food is flushed down into the stomach.
Avoid coffee and tea as they lead to bad breath. Stick to herbal teas and green teas, which do a lot of good to our dental health and oral hygiene. These are some of the ways by which you can keep your mouth sweet smelling and clean all the time. Get yourself regularly tested for underlying medical conditions if your bad breath is persistent and permanent in nature.