Easy Ways To Get Rid Of Bad Breath

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Bad breath can ruin anyone’s day. It’s enough to spoil an intimate moment, and it can make casual conversations or more important discussions like a business meeting or job interview go in a bad direction. It is all too easy to get bad breath from what we eat or drink, and some people are unfortunately afflicted with medical conditions that can cause bad breath to occur on a chronic basis.

So, what can be done? In this quick guide, we will provide you with some simple ways you can fix your bad breath and ensure that you have pleasant and inoffensive conversations once again.

1. First things first: be mindful of what you eat

This is probably the single most effective and most obvious choice you can make. As we all know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is certainly true when it comes to preventing awful breath.

Foods like onions, garlic, pizza or spicy foods, and beverages like beer or coffee can temporarily give you bad breath. You certainly don’t have to give these foods and drinks up, but if you do consume them, just brush your teeth afterwards or pop in some gum or a breath mint. If you would prefer to avoid the risk of bad breath altogether, perhaps opt out of those foods in favor of items with a more neutral scent.

2. Curb your tobacco Use

Smoking or chewing tobacco can be a significant contributing factor toward bad breath. It also leads to discoloration of the teeth and increases the risk of developing lung and mouth cancer. It’s best to simply not go down this road, and if you’re already on it, get off.

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3. Practice good oral hygiene

Keeping your mouth clean will have an enormously positive effect on your breath. Many times, bad breath can be caused by leftover food decaying in the mouth, or by bacteria accumulating on the gums and on or under the tongue.

Brush your teeth thoroughly and regularly, and get regular checkups with your dentist. Flossing helps eliminate food caught between the teeth that can remain stuck even with brushing, and using a tongue scraper helps eliminate the film of bacteria that can build up on the tongue and contribute to bad breath.

Mouthwash is another good option. Follow the directions carefully. They can vary, but usually the proper procedure is to swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds and spit out. An alternative to commercial mouthwash, which has become popular in recent years, is oil pulling. This is a practice in which a natural, healthy oil like coconut or extra virgin olive oil is used in place of mouthwash. However, you must swish the oil (mixed with a little water) in your mouth around for about 10 to 20 minutes, and you only have to do it a few times per week. Some proponents claim that oil pulling is better than regular mouthwash because of the natural antiseptic and antibacterial qualities of these oils, especially coconut oil.

Regardless of which option you choose, make sure you spit and do not swallow. If you swallow the oil or mouthwash, you will simply be ingesting all the plaque, bacteria, and crud you were trying to get rid of, which would be counterproductive.

4. Dealing with Halitosis

It is important to distinguish between temporary bad breath caused by a particular food or drink and halitosis, an actual medical condition effecting some 30 percent of the world’s population, according to Everyday Health. For halitosis, the remedies listed above can be effective, but it is best to work with a doctor as well, because the right solution will vary depending on each case.

As you can see, most of the time bad breath is caused by simple choices in our daily routines. As with so many other aspects of our health, making different choices will allow you to fix your bad breath most of the time. Follow these simple steps, and start breathing clean and free!

References:

www.mouthhealthy.org

www.girlshealth.gov

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