August 6this National Fresh Breath Day. Join us in celebrating this special occasion by learning a few valuable tips on how to maintainminty-fresh breath and steer clear ofany uncomfortable moments.
Watch What You Eat
Remember, you are what you eat!Certain foods have a significant impactonthe smell of your breath. Garlic, onion, canned tuna, and horseradishare notoriousfor leavinga distinct odorthat lingers in the mouth forhours.Furthermore, foods that are acidic or high in fructose canexpeditebacteriaproductionin theoral cavity, leading toless-than-pleasant-smelling breath.However, not all foods leave a smell behind.Crunchy fruits and vegetables, yogurt, and parsley are allfoods that promote fresh breath.
Choose Drinks Wisely
Manypeople start their day by drinking a cup of coffee, but nobody wants evidence of their morning brew to stay on their breath.You may be curious why coffee leaves such a distinct scent. The process of roasting coffee beans causes sulfuric compoundsto form.Unfortunately, when combined with the acidic properties of coffee, these compounds causea stubborn odorto stay around in the mouth. Alcohol is also known to cause stinky breath since it has a potent residue that sticks to plaque. If you are lookingfor a beveragethat will leave your breath smelling fresh,drinkgreen tea or water.
Carry a Travel Kit
Your breath can sometimes be a dead giveaway of what you just ate for lunch, especially when youhave agarlic-heavy meal. When you are away from home, it may feel impossible to get rid ofthe lingering smells. However, havinganoral hygienekit in your bag or carmakes it simple to freshenyour breathaway from home.Include a travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwashin your kit. Additionally,carry a pack of sugar-free gum for more convenient fresheningon the go.
Replace Your Toothbrush
Toothbrushes, or toothbrush heads if you use an electric one, do notlast forever! Youshould replace your toothbrushevery three months. If you try to stretchout a toothbrush’s lifespanlonger than a quarter of the year, it willbecome less effective at cleaning teethand leave more plaque behind. Mark your calendar for three months after you replace your toothbrush to remind yourfuture selfto switch it out with a new one.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration is an extremely common cause of bad breath.Saliva productiondrasticallydecreaseswhen a person is dehydrated.One of saliva’s key functionsis to wash away excess food particlesfrom the teeth. However, when this debris stays in the mouth, bacteria production heightens,causingbad breath. Adult men should try to drink 125 ozof water daily,and womenshould aim for at least 91 oz.
Clean Your Tongue
We are all told from an early ageof the importance of brushing and flossing our teeth. However, cleaning the tongue sometimesgets left out of that conversation. There are 20 billion bacteriain themouth at any given time,and a large amount of them cultivate on the tongue. When the tongue is not cleanedregularly,bacteria accumulate, producing a distinct stench. Use a tongue scraper twice a day to gently remove odor-producing bacteria from the tongue.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Daily oral carecan significantly impactthe smell of breath. Patients with a thorough oral hygiene routine tend to have better smelling breath than those who regularly skip brushing or flossing. When plaque and bacteria build up on the teeth, it generates a stinky smell. Brushing and flossing removes plaque and bacteria, leaving you with a clean mouth and better-smelling breath. You can also add mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine to remove additionalbacteria from theoral cavity.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Regular dental checkups are essential to maintaininga healthy mouth. These visits give your dental provider a chanceto detect any dental issuesand create a plan to get your smile back to full health.Chronic bad breath can often indicatean underlying dental condition. If you are experiencing stubbornbad breath, schedule an exam as soon as possible. Your dentist can help youfind the root cause of the odor.
