We’ve all been guilty of stinky breath at one time or another. It might have happened because you’ve just woken up in the morning, ate food with too much garlic or onions, or not paid proper attention to oral hygiene. Whatever the cause, bad breath exists. And we’re here to make sure it doesn’t happen more often than you’d like.
Here are easy ways in keeping your breath fresh all throughout the day.
Easy Steps for Keeping Your Breath Fresh All Day
1. Always keep a brush and toothpaste with you wherever you go.
Brushing at least twice a day is what dental professionals recommend, but there are so many opportunities throughout the day for you to freshen your breath, like after lunch or a cup of coffee.
Brushing after meals is important because those bacteria in your mouth look at the food particles left as a feast. Just remember not to brush your teeth immediately after meals, particularly if you’ve had sugary drinks or snacks. Wait at least 30 minutes after.
(The sugar in your food and drink combined with the bacteria in your mouth will produce an acid that will attack your teeth. Brushing while your teeth are under this assault can cause dental abrasion.)
2. Keep hydrated.
Seriously, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Drinking water will not only keep you hydrated, but it’s also an important step in keeping your breath fresh because it keeps your saliva production going. A dry mouth is a haven for bacteria, which causes bad breath.
Saliva also washes away food particles so that bacteria can’t flourish.
3. Choose your food wisely.
There should be no problem if you’re staying at home, but if you’re out with friends or officemates or on a date, you wouldn’t want to order certain foods that produce a strong odor.
Garlic and onions are pretty obvious. The smell doesn’t go away easily even if you brush your teeth.
But other non-obvious choices are vegetables like kale, broccoli, and cauliflower because these are full of sulfur. (Note: Don’t skip out on these veggies entirely! They’re high in fiber, which can reduce inflammation in the mouth. They’re also packed with vitamins and minerals.)
4. Chew on sugarless gum.
Gum contributes to the flow of saliva, because the act of chewing stimulates its production. And saliva helps flush away bacteria. Just make sure to choose the sugarless kind so that you’re not giving bad bacteria something to feed on.
If gum is not your thing, you can also chew on parsley or mint. Or any fresh herb with a pleasant scent.
5. Use a tongue scraper.
There’s a type of bacteria in your mouth that hates oxygen, and it’s called anaerobic bacteria. This type of bacteria likes to hide deep into the mouth’s surfaces to avoid fresh air, and the tongue is one of its favorite hideouts.
Since anaerobic bacteria are one of the major contributors to bad breath, it’s important that you clean your tongue thoroughly. A scraper along the surface of your tongue will remove all of the burrowing bacteria as well as their byproducts.
Good Oral Habits Keep Mouths Smelling Good
While chewing sugarless gum, drinking plenty of water, and choosing your food help in keeping your breath fresh, those are still no substitute for good oral habits. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash should be done diligently. Every day.
And if after everything you’ve tried your bad breath still hasn’t gone away, go ahead and make an appointment with your dentist. It could be the result of multiple factors, and only a professional can diagnose and treat it.
To make an appointment, call us at 541-708-6288.
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