Bad breath, or halitosis, is a big time problem that tons of people suffer with across the globe. It can be difficult to figure out exactly why you have it, but some of the causes include poor dental hygiene, diet, smoking, or a lack of saliva in your mouth due to genetics or medications you might be taking. If the bad breath demon has tagged you, there are plenty of ways to fight him off.
tongue Time
The single best way to keep that bad breath away is by keeping your mouth clean, specifically your tongue. Use a toothbrush at least twice a day, and when you’re finished with the chompers, don’t neglect that slimy tongue. Give your tongue a good brushing. Most people don’t think of the tongue when brushing but that little fella is a serious contributor to horrendous halitosis. If you haven’t swapped out toothbrushes in a while, remember to do so every few months to keep it cleaning properly.
Drink Up
While the tongue is the most common cause of the stinky fumes of fire, dry mouth is a close second. And even more concerning, dry mouth can make your teeth
rot in a matter of weeks. If you don’t have a lot of saliva flowing in your mouth, it’s imperative that you do everything you possibly can to get those salivar
y juices flowing. One of the best ways to do this is to drink a ton of water. Not only does it keep you more hydrated, it also helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Plus you’ll notice more
moisture in your mouth which will help prevent tooth decay.
And when you’re getting all your drinking in, you can’t count coffee, soda, or beer. Drink up all the water if you really want to improve your halitosis.
What are you Eating?
Some of the foods you eat can be huge contributors to gremlin breath. Specifically onion, spicy foods, and garlic. If you can work your diet away from these, that will definitely help you have a more welcoming fragrance coming from your food hole. If you must eat these foods, be sure to brush your teeth immediately after, or at least drink a bunch of water to wash down as much as you can.
No more cigs
Chew Gum, But Not The Sugary Stuff.
Gum helps stimulate saliva production, which as I previously mentioned, will be a huge help in battling the bad breath demons, along with keeping your teeth healthy and cavity free. If you’re low on saliva, get high on sugar free gum. Seek out a gum that uses xylitol sweetener, as this also will wipe out a lot of the bad bacteria.
Go Natural Bruh
If you’ve tried everything I’ve outlined so far and still aren’t having any luck, here are a few natural remedies that many of my patients have found success with.
- Green Tea- This stuff is legit. It has catechins. (Read more about those here) One of their main benefits is murdering bacteria in your mouth.
- Chew on cloves or fennel. Not only will this improve your breath, it also helps with digestion!
- Use baking soda for mouthwash. It doesn’t taste great but it can fight off a lot of nasty odors that have rooted themselves deep in your oral cavity.
See the Dentist
If all else has failed, it’s time to suck it up and make an appointment to go see your dentist. You may have serious gum disease that can only be resolved by getting your mouth numbed and getting a deep cleaning.
