Banish Bad Breath

Banish Bad Breath

There’s no need to suffer ill effects from halitosis, commonly known as bad breath. Simple solutions can change your breath from sour to sweet within the course of a week, sometimes even faster.

Brush, brush, brush!
Good oral hygiene is your best defense against bad breath. Because cavities, tooth decay and gum disease can be underlying causes of unpleasant breath, it’s important to take good care of your mouth. Brushing after every meal is a great habit, but if that’s too too much, shoot for twice a day. It’ll keep your teeth and gums healthy and reduce any signs of sour breath. Don’t forget to floss since plaque and bacteria handily hide between teeth and cause problems with an otherwise healthy mouth. Getting in to see your dentist twice a year is also a must for keeping your teeth in tip-top shape. A professional cleaning will catch any plaque that’s escaped your brush and a visit with your dentist will help you determine if there are other factors causing halitosis.

Tongue Care
Believe it or not, a lot of the bacteria that can cause bad breath is actually found on the tongue. Simply brush your tongue with your soft bristled toothbrush in a gentle back-and-forth motion whenever you brush your teeth. If this doesn’t do the trick, consider buying a tongue scraper, which will be a little more thorough in cleaning the surface of your tongue.

Skip the Sugar
Sweet mints and gum can temporarily mask bad breath but ultimately it may make the problem worse. Bacteria that cause halitosis feed on and ferment sugars, causing the stink you’re trying to get rid of.

But Don’t Skimp on Water
Saliva contains enzymes that kill bad bacteria and drinking enough water throughout the day will ensure your mouth is adequately hydrated. If you’re having trouble with dry mouth even though you’re making sure to get enough water each day, talk to your doctor or dentist about underlying causes such as side affects from medications.

Tea, Anyone?
Black and green tea contain polyphenols, which are chemical compounds that prevent the growth of bacteria. Less bacteria, less bad breath!

Save Room for Carbs Completely eliminating carbs in favor of protein can cause bad breath by way of a process called ketosis. When you body burns stored fats for fuel instead of carbs, the smelly chemical ketone accumulates in your body and is released with each breath. No amount of brushing will get rid of this smell, only a change in diet will help.

And Pass the Cardamom
A natural breath freshener, cardamom is often found in Indian food. The antiseptic compound cineole, found abundantly in cardamom, kills bacteria and alleviates bad breath naturally. Add this spice to your favorite recipes or chew on a small handful of seeds after a meal.

Halitosis can be a sign of other, underlying health issues, so if you’ve gone through the list and are still having trouble with less-than-fresh breath, schedule an appointment with your family doctor.

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