5 Effective Ways To Prevent Bad Breath

Bad breath will make you self-conscious and possibly put your friendships and even your love life in jeopardy.  If you struggle with bad breath, it is time to take action.

Below, we outline the best ways to prevent bad breath.

1. Develop and Stick to a Comprehensive Dental Cleaning Routine

The best way to combat bad breath is to put in the work each and every day in terms of flossing, brushing and rinsing.  Floss your teeth at least once per day. If possible, floss your teeth after each meal. Brush in the morning and evening. When brushing, clean the entirety of your mouth so no food or bacteria can linger and compromise your breath.

2. Hydrate!

Doctors recommend drinking about eight glasses of water per day.  Water is essential for biological health as well as oral health. Furthermore, water will freshen your breath.  Drink water throughout the day and you will find your breath smells better. Saliva assists in the elimination of food debris that bacteria targets. The bottom line is a moist mouth is a mouth that is unlikely to smell bad.

3. Tap Into the Power of Mouth Rinse to Prevent Bad Breath

Mouth rinse alone will not clean your mouth or permanently freshen your breath. However, the daily use of mouth rinse will help prevent bad breath from occurring in the ensuing hours.  Consult with your dentist to determine which mouth rinse is ideal for your mouth and oral health issues.

Choose the wrong mouth rinse and you might worsen your breath as the oral tissue becomes irritated.  There will be some instances in which you are traveling and do not have mouth rinse, run out of mouth rinse or simply cannot access it.  Swishing with water is better than doing nothing in such situations. It is interesting to note researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have determined rinsing the mouth with green or black tea will suppress bacteria growth that leads to an odorous mouth.

4. Worried About Bad Breath?  Watch What You Eat

Alcohol and coffee dry out the mouth.  As noted above, a mouth lacking in moisture is more likely to be odorous.  Take some time to review the foods you eat on a consistent basis. Dairy products and fatty foods alter mouth acidity and encourage the growth of bacteria.  Even medications like pain relievers, diuretics, antihistamines and antidepressants can reduce saliva flow and cause bad breath. Meet with your doctor to find out if alternative medications are available that will not dry out your mouth.  In general, vegetables and fresh fruit are the best snacks for fresh breath. These foods stimulate the flow of saliva to wash away that foul-smelling bacteria from the mouth.

5. Stop Using Tobacco

The use of tobacco will sabotage the smell of your breath.  In particular, smoking cigarettes causes extremely odorous breath.  Tobacco dries out the mouth, creating a nasty odor that remains long after the teeth are cleaned.  Eliminate the cigarettes and other forms of tobacco and you will find your breath smells that much better.

Please call Trophy Smile Studio today at (817) 210-4049!