8 Ways To Make Your Breath Smell Good & Say Goodbye To Bad Breath!
Do you brush twice a day and floss once a day?
Well, brushing teeth is widely regarded as the most important thing you can do for dental health. Unfortunately, many of us are brushing the wrong way and not often enough. Let’s not even talk about flossing!
What happens when you don’t brush your teeth?
Bad breath can originate both inside and outside of the mouth. Bad breath is typically caused by bacteria present on the teeth and debris on the tongue. So it’s no surprise that most cases of bad breath, also known as halitosis, are associated with poor oral hygiene and gum diseases.
Let's leave the judgment at the door here, because we are all guilty of stinky breath from time to time. Whether the cause is your diet, morning breath, or overall dental hygiene, here are some helpful tips to improve bad breath!
Scroll on to read more!
#1 Stay Hydrated
Be sure to drink a sufficient amount of water (six to eight 8-ounce glasses) daily. Drinking water will help keep odor under control because it helps wash away food particles and bacteria, the primary cause of bad breath.
#2 Use Alcohol-free Mouthwash
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Go ahead and toss all your alcohol-based rinses because ironically enough, your mouthwash could be your problem. Alcohol dries out your mouth, which leads to more bacteria growth. In some cases, mouth rinses may worsen a bad breath problem by irritating oral tissue. Keep in mind that if a dental problem is the cause of chronic bad breath, a mouth rinse will only mask the odour and not cure it.
Get some of our top picks here!
LISTERINE® Zero (Cool Mint Zero Alcohol), Colgate® Plax Alcohol Free Mouthwash, Pearlie White Fluorinze Alcohol Free Mouth Rinse and Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical 7-in-1 Mouthwash.
For a quick fix, rinse your mouth with black or green tea: according to a study by the University of Illinois at Chicago, rinsing your mouth with black or green tea suppresses the growth of bacteria that cause mouth odour.
#3 Scrape Your Tongue
The coating that normally forms on your tongue can be a host for smelly bacteria. To get rid of them, gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush. If your brush is too big to comfortably reach the back of your tongue, try a scraper.
#4 Brush & Floss Everyday
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Brush after every meal and floss, preferably twice a day. Sure, flossing is an extra step, but it’s an essential one. Brushing your teeth helps nix the plaque and bacteria on the front, back, and the chewing surface, but flossing dislodges anything your toothbrush can’t get to between the teeth. Especially when there are food particles stuck in between, as once they’ve made their home inside your mouth, they will give off the foul-smelling waste.
#5 Avoid Smoking
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Besides causing cancer, smoking can damage your gums, stain your teeth, and give you bad breath. Smoke particles that linger in your throat and lungs can stick around for hours, scenting your breath with a stale odour.
#6 Eat Probiotic Foods
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Good breath relies on a healthy gut. Eating probiotic foods like kimchi, yoghurt, and kefir increases the good bacteria in your gut. When good bacteria thrive, there’s less room for the bad bacteria, which leads to bad breath.
#7 Chew On Fresh Mint/ Basil Or Parsley Leaves
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You laugh, but it works! The chlorophyll in these green plants neutralizes odors.
#8 Visit Your Dentist Regularly
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Besides regularly brushing and flossing, another important factor to keeping your oral hygiene in ship shape is to see your dentist at least twice a year (depending on your oral condition) for a check up and cleaning. While you’re there, don’t hesitate to bring up your concerns if you’ve tried everything and your bad breath still isn’t going away.
Try these tips and don’t let bad breath take a toll on your big smile, strong confidence and self-esteem.
While we are at this, do check out our wellness articles to improve your overall wellness!
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Text by: GirlStyle SG
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