A healthy, happy smile is always going to be attractive, but what comes out of your mouth is just as important as what is in your mouth. In other words, your breath is an important aspect of your oral health care.
Bad breath can be embarrassing. It can also be difficult to get under control, especially if you don’t know what’s causing it. The good news is, it’s a problem that can be helped. Here are some things you can do to combat bad breath.
Practice basic oral hygiene.
The best thing you can do to combat bad breath is also one of the simplest: practice good oral hygiene. The basics of oral healthcare—daily brushing and flossing—should take care of the majority of odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. This also includes regularly renewing your toothbrush or brush head.
Use mouthwash.
If you want to take step beyond the basics, add mouthwash to your daily routine. A mouthwash will help kill any residual bacteria left in your mouth.
Brush your tongue.
Your tongue is one of the biggest bacteria collectors in your mouth. Brush it along with your teeth and gums in order to reduce bacteria and another potential cause of bad breath.
Treat gum disease.
As gums pull away from your teeth (as happens with gum disease), pockets are created that can harbor bacteria. A deep cleaning, along with regular treatment, can help reduce these symptoms.
Stimulate saliva.
Saliva is your body’s way to keep your mouth naturally clean, so stimulating saliva can help with bad breath. Ways to stimulate saliva include chewing gum or sucking on sugarless candy. If dry mouth is a chronic problem for you, talk to your dentist about other options.
Change your diet.
Some foods are notorious for giving you bad breath (onions and garlic being top offenders). If you are concerned about your breath, it might be best to avoid these foods for a while, or to be conscious about brushing immediately after eating.
Talk to your dentist.
If these remedies don’t seem to help your bad breath, it’s probably time to talk to your dentist. Be ready to answer questions about when you started to notice your bad breath, whether or not anything makes it better, what kind of diet you have, and what oral health routine you follow. Your dentist should be able to recommend other procedures or products that could help solve your bad breath problem.
Bad breath isn’t pleasant, but it also isn’t something you just have to accept. There are plenty of things you can try to help manage your bad breath, so you can be more confident around others.
