When your breath isn’t fresh, you may feel uncomfortable or even self-conscious around others. Whether you have bad garlic or coffee breath, or a more chronic condition, such as halitosis, it is important that you take the necessary steps to get your breath smelling good again. When gum or mints isn’t cutting it, here are some helpful tips to improve the smell of your breath:
Keep your tongue clean
Just like your teeth and gums, your tongue can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Invest in a tongue scraper and make it a habit of scraping your tongue at least twice a day when you brush and floss. It is recommended that you brush your tongue from as far back as possible and scraping the food particles to the tip of your tongue. Then rinse your mouth and tongue with mouthwash to kill the bacteria.
Stay hydrated
By drinking water throughout the day, you are keeping your mouth moist and washing away food particles and bacteria. Drinking tea may also be helpful because it contains plant chemicals that decrease bacterial breath.
Watch what you eat
Certain diets may trigger bad breath. For example, a low carb diet can make your breath smell bad because of the fat-burning state, referred to as ketosis. Coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, and other foods and drinks may also be triggers of harsh-smelling breath. By maintaining a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and healthy carbohydrates, as well as drinking lots of water, you can improve your chances of not having to deal with bad breath.
Aloe Vera Home Remedy
Aloe vera is not just a remedy for cuts and burns, but can also help with bad breath. It works as an anti-inflammatory that soothes acid indigestion, which can cause bad mouth odor. By dissolving a quarter-cup of aloe vera gel in a half-cup of water daily, you can help decrease the gastric acid and improve the smell of your breath.
Choose your gum wisely
Chewing gum or sucking mints are a common and temporary way to get rid of smelly breath. However, it is important that you choose sugarless gum and mints because the ones with sugar only add to your problem. By chewing sugarless gum, you can increase your saliva flow and wash away harmful bacteria on your teeth, gums, and tongue.
Visit your dentist regularly
If you notice that you have tried everything and still cannot get rid of the bad odor on your breath, it is time to visit your dentist. A regular professional cleaning at least two times a year can work wonders on the plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and gums. Also, your dentist can help determine what is best for you to keep your mouth smelling fresh.
For the most part, as long as you follow good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly, you should be able to avoid conditions such as halitosis. It is important to also avoid smoking and the use of tobacco because it increases your chances of developing oral cancer and gum disease. If you feel like you have done everything you can do to stay on top of your oral health and still have halitosis, it is important to visit your doctor to rule out any other serious underlying health conditions that may cause bad breath, such as diabetes, infections, or other diseases.
Please feel free to schedule an appointment at my Beverly Hills dentistry practice. I look forward to helping you achieve an A-list smile!