We all know what it’s like to have bad breath: it’s embarrassing and uncomfortable, and you want to hide the fact that you have it. It can be caused by the foods we eat, certain medical conditions, alcohol use, tobacco use, or other factors. But what if there was a way to keep your mouth fresh and smelling good all day long?
Luckily, there is! We’ve put together this guide to help you learn how to make your breath smell good. Use these tips every day to keep your breath as sweet as possible!
When you visit your dentist, they can help you maintain fresh breath by performing a dental cleaning by removing tartar and plaque from your teeth. In addition to helping you keep your breath fresh, seeing your dentist regularly will help prevent cavities, avoid gum disease, keep your smile looking its best, and keep your gums healthy. Regular visits are also important for maintaining overall health—not just dental health!
Brushing your teeth each day is the best way to keep your breath smelling good, and it’s quick and easy! Just make sure you use fluoride toothpaste, brush for 2 minutes, and replace your toothbrush every three months.
Flossing is vital for your overall oral health, but it also helps keep your breath smelling fresh. Flossing removes bacteria, plaque, and food particles between your teeth and under your gum line, and not doing so can lead to gum disease and tooth decay if left untreated.
Bacteria left on your tongue can be responsible for unpleasant odors. To take care of this, scrape your tongue with a store-bought tongue scraper or your own toothbrush. Gently scrape the back and sides of your tongue from front to back.
If you’re looking to give your breath an instant boost, mouthwash, also known as a mouth rinse, is a fast and easy solution.
However, not all mouthwashes are created equal. Avoid alcohol-based varieties as prolonged use can lead to oral cancer. Instead, look for a fluoride-containing version that will fight tooth decay in addition to giving your breath a fresh smell.
Follow these steps if you don’t have mouthwash and feel like making your own all-natural homemade mouthwash.
Sugary snacks like soda and candy are known for causing bad breath because they lead to plaque buildup and tooth decay. Choosing a healthy balanced diet, particularly foods high in vitamin C, such as red bell pepper and broccoli, creates an inhospitable environment for halitosis-causing bacteria. When eaten raw, they work even better as crunchy fruits and veggies are mechanically abrasive and help loosen trapped food particles.
In addition, avoid excessive carbohydrates like bread, pasta, and rice; instead, focus on foods like meat, fish, poultry, and eggs which will help maintain healthy teeth. If you are going to eat junk food or sweets, try to limit them as much as possible – it’s best not to have anything for at least one hour before bedtime so that any leftover sugar doesn’t cause bacteria on your tongue more time than necessary!
The simplest way to reduce morning breath is by brushing your teeth and flossing before bed. When you sleep, saliva production slows down, and the bacteria in your mouth can multiply quickly due to a dry mouth environment. Toothpaste and flossing help kill these bacteria and reduce the amount of odor-causing chemicals produced during the night.
Another way to reduce morning breath is by drinking water before bed. Drinking water helps cleanse your mouth, reducing the amount of food particles and other debris that cause bad breath.
Water is a great way to help your breath smell good. The more water you drink, the more saliva you produce. Keeping your mouth moist helps break down and flush out bacteria that cause bad breath. It also helps carry away food debris that contributes to bad breath by trapping them in your mouth instead of letting them hang around until they decompose into smelly molecules. So drink plenty of water!
Avoid sugary drinks like soda and fruit juices as these can contribute to tooth decay, which could lead to bad breath in the future if left untreated.
If you smoke, the easiest ways to improve your breath is to kick the tobacco habit. Tobacco products have been shown to cause bad breath and other health problems. If you need help quitting smoking, talk with a doctor to see the best way to quit smoking.
If your breath smells bad even after brushing, the problem could be one of a few things.
First, you might have an underlying medical condition that’s causing the smell in your breath. If this is the case, you should see your dentist or doctor as soon as possible to get it taken care of.
Second, it could be that you’re not brushing properly. If you’re using a manual toothbrush, make sure you’re brushing your tongue with it as well—it’s one of the biggest causes of bad breath!
Third, it could be that there’s something stuck between your teeth and gums that’s causing the smell. You can try flossing and rinsing with mouthwash to help remove it.
Bad breath is caused by a variety of factors, including the condition of one’s teeth and gums, dry mouth, poor oral hygiene and dental devices like dentures that do not fit properly. In some cases, gastrointestinal problems, liver dysfunction or kidney failure can lead to halitosis.
One way to check whether you have bad breath is to lick the inside of your wrist. After 10 seconds, smell the area you licked. If you have bad breath, some of the odor will be left on your skin and become apparent when you smell it. An alternative is licking the back of a spoon and waiting 10 seconds before smelling it to see if your breath smells.
If bad breath persists, it may be a sign that more serious oral health issues are present. If you think you need to brighten up your breath or smile, our team is here to answer all of your treatment option questions to find the right dental solution for healthy teeth. To schedule your appointment, contact Sloan Creek Dental, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you. You can reach us at our Fairview, TX dental office to schedule an in-person consultation with us today – 972-468-1440.
Our dental office is located in Fairview, Texas, and our patients visit us from across the surrounding areas, including Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Lucas.
