Bad breath is one of the embarrassing issues that actually hamper your social life. If you have bad breath, do not immediately panic. After all, you still have some ways to reverse that problem. You can improve the situation by consistently practicing good oral care habits. Here are some of the oral care habits that you should establish to be able to completely remedy bad breath.
First, you should brush your teeth regularly. By brushing your teeth regularly, you can remove the bacteria causing bad breath from the teeth and gums. It is highly recommended to brush the teeth at least two times a day. You might even want to bring a toothbrush at work since there are odors you can remove after a meal. The toothbrush should be the soft-bristle ones.
Do not overlook your tongue. Make sure that you brush your tongue as well since it can also harbor tiny food bits and plaque. When cleaning the tongue, brush it across to remove bacteria and food which causes bad breath. Some people have a coated tongue. If you are one of those people with a coated tongue, then you should consider using a tongue scraper.
Flossing your teeth at least once a day can also help you remove bad breath. By flossing, you should be able to get rid of the plaque hiding in between your teeth. By flossing, the tiny food particles trapped in between the teeth can be removed as well. Know that flossing is as essential to oral care as brushing your teeth.
If you are wearing dentures or retainers, you have to clean them as well. Keep them clean so that they do not harbor any bacteria that can cause bad breath. If you have a denture, remove it at night and brush it using dental cleansers. If you are using a retainer, then clean it thoroughly before you put it right back in your mouth.
There are beverages that you should avoid as they can cause bad breath. These beverages include alcoholic drinks like whiskey, wine, and bear as well as coffee. These beverages leave some residue behind. Moreover, the residue sticks to the plaques in the mouth.
You might want to be wary of odorous foods. There are many strong-tasting foods that leave odors in the mouth. It is especially true when you eat cheese, onions, hot peppers, and garlic. The scent will linger after a meal. If you can, you can try avoiding eating these food but since they are healthy food items, you can just look for ways to alleviate odor problems.
Natural breath fresheners are quite helpful too. There are spices and herbs that you can consider stocking up in your kitchen so that you can freshen up your breath. For example, there is parsley which contains the natural deodorizer chlorophyll. Mint tea will also improve your scent, especially after a meal.
Keep your mouth hydrated. If you have dry mouth, then that will definitely cause bad breath. Drink a lot of water – not soft drinks, alcohol, and coffee – so that you can prevent your mouth from drying. If you have a severe case of dry mouth, then you should consider looking for a dentist to prescribe an artificial saliva for you.