Concerned about bad breath? Don’t worry! There are many remedies for bad breath that will have your mouth feeling fresher in no time. Try these 5 tips!
- Try Probiotics
- Practice Good Oral Health
- Brush & Scrape Your Tongue
- Drink Water & Eat a Healthy Diet
- Chew Sugar-free Gum
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health. These are the good kinds of bacteria that are known to help your digestive health, but they can also be used to treat bad breath. By eating probiotics such as kefir, yogurt, miso, and sauerkraut, the good bacteria in your mouth will outweigh the bad bacteria and your breath will stay fresher.
Perhaps the easiest way to banish bad breath is to practice good oral hygiene. By brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with mouthwash, you are removing tiny food particles that, if left in your mouth too long, can start to smell. Even more importantly, if these particles aren’t washed, flossed, or brushed away, they can lead to serious dental problems like tooth decay that can make your breath smell even worse.
People often don’t think about brushing their tongue when they brush their teeth, but food particles can cling to tongues just as much as they do between teeth. If brushing alone doesn’t seem to banish your bad breath, you can also purchase a tongue scraper at your local drugstore which is specifically designed to clean the coating on the surface of the tongue. Whether you brush or scrape your tongue, be sure to rinse your mouth out after to get rid of any of the loose particles from your tongue.
What you eat and drink has a direct effect on your oral health. Bad breath often occurs when your mouth is dry, so be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Your diet can also affect your breath. Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, can help cleanse your mouth of food particles that stick to your teeth after you eat. They also stimulate salivary flow in your mouth, which helps to wash away any acids that are produced when food is broken down by bacteria in your mouth. Starchy and sugary food often sits in your mouth long after you’ve eaten, and these particles can start to smell and lead to bad breath.
We all know that chewing gum can help make your mouth fresher, but it does much more than just put a minty flavor in your mouth. The saliva that increases when you chew gum also helps to combat symptoms of bad breath and dry mouth. It should be noted that you should only be chewing sugarless gum. Xylitol, a common sugar replacement found in sugarless gum, can reduce the amount of decay and bad breath-causing bacteria in your mouth.
Another key to keeping bad breath at bay is to come see us for regular checkups and cleanings. Call us today to make an appointment!
