5 Ways to Attack Bad Breath

Even the most confident person in the world can experience self-consciousness from having bad breath. While bad breath can actually be an indicator of a more serious dental condition, there are definitely ways you can attack bad breath every day.

Read on for 5 ways to get rid of bad breath:

Brush and floss often

One of the culprits of bad breath is plaque that collects bacteria on teeth. Food and debris caught in between teeth definitely doesn’t help the situation either. We recommend that our patients brush and floss at least twice a day. Increasing brushing and flossing can be a great way to knock out smelly bacteria. Pack a travel size toothbrush/toothpaste to keep in your desk or bag if you work full-time or go to school and aren’t at home during the day.

Try a tongue scraper

Probably the biggest culprit of bad breath is the bacteria that builds up on your tongue. It’s important to gently brush off the film of bacteria on your tongue, but most people find their toothbrush too big and clunky for those hard to reach places. For around $3-$5, you can buy a tongue scraper at your local drugstore to get rid of bad breath causing bacteria. Just a word of warning: don’t scrape too hard!

Avoid stinky foods

Onions and garlic are notorious for causing lingering bad breath, despite brushing and flossing!

The best way to get rid of the problem is to avoid these foods altogether, especially in social settings like work or parties, where you typically talk and laugh with people.

Rinse your mouth after eating

In addition to brushing and flossing, mouthwash helps knock out bad breath and leaves your mouth feeling extra clean and fresh, especially if you’re not around your toothbrush. Rinsing your mouth out with just water after you eat to flush out food particles and debris stuck on your teeth.

Chew sugar-free gum

Chewing gum can freshen your breath, but make sure you’re getting sugar-free. Typically, gum has sugar in it, and sugar feeds off the bacteria in your mouth. Your best bet for gum would be something minty-fresh without the sugar. Editor’s note: please don’t substitute chewing gum for brushing and flossing 🙂

If you’ve tried all these things yet still experience lingering bad breath, it could be your body trying to tell you something. Schedule an appointment with us and we’ll help you get to the root of the problem.