There’s no getting away from it – bad breath can be a horrible thing. Otherwise known as halitosis, over 30% of the globe suffer from the symptoms. However, the answers don’t have to be complicated. Maintaining high standards of dental routine and improving your oral hygiene are massive stepping stones away from bad breath. Here are a few of our top tips to help you out.
Hydrate your mouth
If you’ve got a dry mouth, chances are you’ll be a bad breath sufferer. Saliva is a crucial part of any well-functioning mouth. It helps to drive away chunks of food and fights the bad bacteria that otherwise hangs around your mouth. We recommend upping your water intake; not only will this improve your overall health, but your breath will be revitalized too.
Clean your tongue
This should be part of your dental routine anyway, but making sure your tongue is in tip-top shape is vital for stopping bad breath. It’s really simple to do too – when you’re brushing always remember to give your tongue a brush too. You’ll wash away all the bacteria that’s built up which may be causing your bad breath. Investing in a tongue scraper may also be a great solution.
Quit the cigarettes
Who knew cigarettes were bad for you? Let’s be honest – smoking isn’t good for any part of your health. A massive bonus of quitting tobacco is your improved breath. Smoking dries your mouth and leaves your gums and teeth significantly worse off. Stopping a nicotine addiction is as hard as it comes, so make sure you get all the help you can from your GP.
Snack on crunchy food
All those deliciously crunchy vegetables, such as carrots and broccoli, can act as a natural toothbrush for your teeth and mouth. Regular snacking on these healthy foods or introducing them into your meals can be a great way to solve your breath issues. Another tip is to ensure you’re not going hungry – the more desperate you are for food, the more acid builds in your stomach. This results in yet another dose of bad breath.
Refresh your toothbrush
Stopping yourself from buying a toothbrush when your current one is overused isn’t the best idea. Don’t worry, nobody’s innocent! Buying a new toothbrush every few months not only improves your breath but will make the enamel on your teeth stronger. It won’t be long before you smell the difference.
Start flossing
If you haven’t made flossing part of your daily routine yet, you won’t regret picking it up. Flossing gets rid of all those bits of food that get stuck in between your teeth and greatly improve our oral hygiene. It also massively reduces the chances of gum disease and keeps your teeth in tip-top shape.
Maintain a daily routine
We can’t stress enough just how important keeping up your daily brushing routine is. Even if you only drop one or two days a month, it can have a serious impact on your oral health and subsequently your breath. If you’re beginning to fall out of the habit, make sure you’re starting to be stricter on yourself and brush away that bad breath.
Change up your diet
While this one is pretty obvious, you’d be surprised just how much changing your diet can help your bad breath. Eating healthy foods such as vegetables and fruit won’t only improve the smell of your breath – a good diet with a reduced amount of sugar is fantastic for your entire health. Cut down on those sweet foods and get stuck into some healthy recipes. Trust us when we say you’ll feel better for it.
Use the right toothpaste
With all the toothpaste options out there, it can be quite overwhelming when deciding which one to pick. At the end of the day, as long as you’re using a toothpaste that contains fluoride you’re heading in the right direction. Keep that consistency with a fresh-smelling toothpaste and your breath will be wonderfully fresh.
Go for regular dental check-ups
This one isn’t exactly a revolutionary idea – the more often you go to the dentist, the better your oral health will be. Making your dentists happy with regular visits will ensure that any lurking issues that could cause bad breath can be stopped well in advance. If you’re based in London, we would recommend Pure Smiles. Their slow dentistry techniques mean that you can build up a rewarding rapport with your dentist. They’ll also be able to help you with any issues with the bad breath that you feel are left unanswered.
Use mouthwash
If you’re still struggling to get rid of your halitosis even with a regular brushing and flossing routine, it might be time to invest in some good quality mouthwash. After you’ve brushed your teeth, make it a habit to gurgle some fresh mouthwash. This will sustain your good breath for much longer while also giving your oral hygiene a welcome boost.
Keep your dentures clean
If you have dentures, making sure they’re cleaned daily is really important for your breath. We’d suggest taking them out before you go to bed and giving them a light brush. This will keep your breath smelling nice and fresh while also reducing the chances of infection. If you’re still having trouble you could look at permanent dental implants.
Don’t rinse your mouth after brushing
This is one that many people struggle to remove from their daily routine. When you’re brushing your teeth always ensure that you don’t rinse your mouth out. This removes all the fluoride that normally helps your enamel, while also getting rid of those refreshing minty aromas that you’ve used to brush your teeth.
If you’re still struggling with bad breath even after following these top tips, it’s best to go straight to the dentist. While mostly just being something that damages our self-esteem, bad breath can be a sign of infection, a build-up of plaque or gum disease. In the meantime, always make sure not to fall into those bad habits or lose your routine – doing something about your breath doesn’t have to be difficult.