Dragon Breath? 6 Tips to Get Rid of Bad Breath
Everyone’s suffered from a case or two of bad breath. If you’re human (or any other species with a mouth) it’s unavoidable. However, with the right oral care, you can take steps to keep your breath as fresh as possible and prevent it from smelling excessively foul.
What Causes Bad Breath?
While certain foods (we’re looking at you, garlic and onions) contain smelly enzymes that can cause bad breath, the primary cause of foul-smelling breath is the bacteria living inside the mouth.
6 Tips to Nix Bad Breath
1. Good Oral Hygiene
Brushing and flossing regularly helps to remove smelly bacteria from the mouth in addition to the sugars on which bacteria feed.
2. Stay Hydrated
The saliva in your mouth constantly washes sticky plaque and harmful bacteria off of your teeth and gums and out of your mouth. As a result, having a dry mouth can lead to a bacterial buildup and subsequent bad breath. Staying hydrated will ensure a healthy saliva flow, helping to prevent bad breath.
3. Don’t Neglect Your Tongue
If you suffer from bad breath, get in the habit of scraping your tongue when you brush and floss your teeth. Keeping your tongue clean will limit the bacteria living in your mouth and limit the bad smells in your mouth, too.
4. Avoid Pungent Foods
This one might be obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. If you don’t want bad breath, avoid eating foods that contain pungent ingredients like onions and garlic.
Avoid eating or drinking foods and beverages that have a high sugar content will also help you to limit the bacteria in your mouth and prevent bad breath.
5. Kick the Mints and Chew Sugar-Free Gum Instead
Instead of sucking on a sugary mint after a meal, chew sugar-free gum instead. This encourages saliva production, helping to remove bacteria from your teeth. Plus, many sugar-free gums contain the artificial sweetener, xylitol, which has been shown to help fight oral bacteria.
6. Get a Dental Checkup
Persistent, excessively bad breath can be a sign of gum disease.
Maintain Good Oral Health With Our Dentist in La Mesa
If you struggle to keep your breath smelling fresh throughout the day, we strongly encourage you to schedule a dental checkup with Dr. Paul Michels at Cardinal Dental in La Mesa. We’ll thoroughly clean your teeth, check you for signs of gum disease, and provide you with a personalized treatment plan to combat your bad breath at its root.
