Though bad breath, also called halitosis, isn’t a life threatening issue, it can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. From time to time, most people experience bad breath. Usually, something you eat or nasal congestion will cause episodes of less than fresh breath. Unfortunately, some people have chronic halitosis, which can be quite frustrating. Consistent problems with bad breath usually occur because of poor oral hygiene, certain medical conditions, dry mouth, and lifestyle choices such as smoking.
Follow these tips to help keep your breath fresh and clean:
• Prioritize daily oral care. Make sure you brush after each meal and floss at least once a day to remove food debris, a major contributor to bad breath, from your mouth.
• Don’t forget your tongue. Often the germs that produce unpleasant odors linger on your tongue. Brushing your tongue or using a tongue scraper can help.
• Avoid temporary fixes. Mints and mouthwashes can actually dry out your mouth, which will make bad breath worse.
• Drink lots of water. By consuming enough water, you will increase saliva production and reduce dry mouth.
• Change your tooth brush regularly. Replace the brush every three to four months because old toothbrushes harbor bacteria.
• Chew sugarless gum. Like water consumption, chewing sugarless gum promotes saliva levels.
• Stop smoking. Although this is difficult, dropping your nicotine habit will give you fresher breath and improve your health.
• Talk with your dentist. In some cases, your doctor may recommend special toothpaste and rinses that are formulated to address chronic halitosis.
