We all find ourselves having bad breath from time to time. Bad breath can be caused by a wide range of factors, including a dehydrated mouth, a diet high in protein, sugar or acid, and smoking. Health disorders and dental caries are additional possible causes of bad breath. Fortunately, preventing bad breath is possible; however, it is necessary to change one's oral hygiene habits and make some changes in terms of nutrition and lifestyle. Continue reading the article to find out more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Promoting Oral Health
Step 1. Brush your teeth properly
Brushing your teeth properly is one of the best things you can do to prevent bad breath. Wash them at least twice a day, for no less than two minutes, and make sure you reach even the most hidden areas of your mouth. Focus especially on where the teeth are in contact with the gums.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and change it every three to four months.
- Brush your teeth just before meals or an hour after you finish eating, otherwise you could damage or erode their enamel.
- Don't forget to brush your tongue too, as numerous bacteria responsible for bad breath accumulate on its surface. Brush it with forward-facing movements towards the tip, and don't forget to treat the sides as well. Four brush strokes should be enough; Also make sure you don't go too far.
Step 2. Use dental floss
Dental floss is another important ally of mouth health. In fact, it allows you to remove plaque and bacteria that accumulate between one tooth and another, in the places where even the best toothbrush fails to reach. Use it at least once a day.
- Dental floss also removes food particles and debris. If they were to remain between the teeth they would begin to decompose, becoming foul smelling and causing bad breath.
- When flossing, focus on where the tooth is in contact with the gum. Move it first against the tooth itself and then against the next one.
Step 3. Try using baking soda
Brushing your teeth with baking soda weekly helps neutralize the bacteria that cause bad breath. Pour a small amount of baking soda onto the bristles of your toothbrush, about a pinch, then use it as usual.
- Baking soda can also act as a mouthwash. Dissolve half a teaspoon in a small glass of water. Fill your mouth with the cleaning solution, without swallowing, and swirl it between your teeth and gums.
- The baking soda neutralizes the acids that accumulate on the back of the teeth and under the tongue.
Step 4. Get a regular check-up at your dentist
Going to the dentist is important for maintaining good oral health, which is a primary factor when it comes to halitosis. Your dentist or dental hygienist will do a thorough cleaning of your mouth, teeth and gums.
- Your dentist will be able to tell you if your bad breath is caused by something more serious than drinking or eating something special or using a toothbrush incorrectly.
- If your bad breath is acute even though you are following a strict diet and oral hygiene regimen (eating and brushing your teeth correctly), it means that you absolutely need to undergo a check-up at the dentist.
Step 5. Mask and prevent bad breath with sugar-free chewing gum and mints
Like water, chewing gum or sugar-free mind candy can increase saliva production, allowing you to wash away harmful bacteria. Plus, they can help you mask bad breath for a short period of time.
- Make sure they are made without sugar. The sugars could feed harmful bacteria, further worsening your bad breath once you stop chewing or sucking on gum or candy.
- Sugar-free chewing gums are more effective than mints; moreover, you will be able to enjoy its benefits after only a few moments.
- Chewing gum contains xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener that comes from birch bark and is particularly effective in preventing bad breath. It also helps reduce tooth decay and can stop the decay of tooth enamel by restoring the minerals necessary for good tooth health.
Step 6. Try using mouthwash
It is another valuable ally in the temporary prevention of bad breath. While masking it only for some time, it can be enough to make you feel comfortable in public.
- An antiseptic mouthwash is also capable of killing harmful bacteria and therefore does not just temporarily hide the bad smell. Choose a product that contains chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, zinc chloride and triclosan, which can kill bacteria.
- Mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine should not be used long-term as they can stain teeth (although not permanently).
- Try to avoid products that contain alcohol. Alcohol-based mouthwashes can contribute to the development of some mouth cancers.
- Use mouthwash to carefully rinse your mouth and gargle.
Part 2 of 3: Changing Your Diet and Lifestyle
Step 1. Drink lots of water
One of the problems that can cause or worsen bad breath is having a dry mouth. The water is odorless and helps wash away the food residues that are so loved by bacteria. It also promotes the production of saliva, an element that cleans the mouth and eliminates foul-smelling substances present in food.
- Do not try to clean up your mouth with coffee, fizzy drinks or alcohol. They will not help prevent bad breath and, in many cases, will cause it themselves.
- Bad breath often results from dehydration. Drinking more water and keeping yourself properly hydrated during the day will help prevent bad breath.
Step 2. Prefer foods rich in fiber
In addition to helping you clean your teeth, fresh and crunchy foods are valuable allies in preventing bad breath. They improve digestion and help the body excrete toxins.
- Avoid sugar-rich foods and drinks. If you're craving a snack, eat an apple or choose a protein ingredient instead of something sweet.
- Avoid acidic drinks. They are bad for both the breath and the health of the teeth, as they can damage the enamel. Try not to drink fizzy drinks and, if you really don't want to give them up, use a straw or swallow them quickly without holding them in your mouth. Also, immediately rinse your mouth with water to try to get rid of any residue.
- Avoid coffee and alcoholic beverages. Both create an environment suitable for the proliferation of bacteria in the mouth, thereby promoting bad breath. In addition, they dehydrate the mucous membranes, further favoring the persistence of bacteria.
Step 3. Don't smoke or chew tobacco
While the reasons why it would be good to quit smoking or chewing tobacco are already countless (including the risk of developing cancer), bad breath is also good. Smokers' breath takes on the smell of stale tobacco smoke and is often described as similar to that of an ashtray. The easiest way to avoid having such bad and smelly breath is to quit smoking.
- Smoking and tobacco can also damage the gums and, in addition to causing more serious diseases, also induce bad breath.
- Smoking stains your teeth and can irritate your gums. Quitting smoking will help you have a healthier mouth.
Step 4. Eat foods rich in vitamin D
Vitamin D has the ability to hinder the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth. You can get it through foods and drinks that have been added to it, but the simplest and most effective way to fill up on vitamin D is to expose yourself to sunlight.
- Try to eat one yogurt a day (sugar-free). Yogurts that contain beneficial bacteria (probiotics) help prevent bad breath by reducing the sulfur compounds that cause it.
- Get your fill of vitamin D by eating foods that are rich in vitamin D, such as fatty fish (e.g. salmon, tuna and mackerel). Some mushrooms also contain vitamin D.
- There are also vitamin D food supplements. The recommended daily amount is 600 IU (international unit) for people aged 1 to 70 and 800 IU for older people.
Step 5. Use herbs and spices
Chewing on fresh parsley helps clean your teeth and mouth and can help prevent bad breath. Cardamom, in seeds and powder, promotes an equally fresh breath. After an intense meal, chew a few fennel seeds; alternatively, grind them and distribute them on the bristles of the toothbrush.
- Chewing on mint leaves can also improve your breath. You can also use them to make herbal tea by steeping them in boiling water.
- Sprinkle a lemon wedge with a little salt and eat the pulp. It will help you fight bad breath caused by particularly strong smelling foods like onion and garlic.
Step 6. Drink green tea or black tea
The tea contains polyphenols which help eliminate sulfur compounds and reduce bacteria from the oral cavity. It also promotes mouth hydration. For an ideal result, drink several cups a day, without adding sugar.
- Green tea is rich in antioxidants and promotes the fight against bacteria in the mouth. Sipping on green tea can also help you neutralize the smell of garlic.
- Both green and black tea are prepared by infusing the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Black tea is one of the most popular drinks on the entire planet, the consumption of which is second only to that of water.
Part 3 of 3: Noticing You Have Bad Breath
Step 1. Test to see if you have bad breath
Realizing that you have bad breath for those around you isn't always easy. If you have bad breath, this test will transfer the sulfur salts from your mouth to a surface that you can smell for yourself.
- Lick the inside of your clean wrist, then wait five minutes before sniffing it. If you have bad breath, you will be able to smell it on your skin.
- Touch clean gauze with your tongue, then smell it. If you smell bad, your breath is also bad smelling.
Step 2. Notice if you have a bad taste in your mouth
If you experience an unpleasant taste, you most likely also have bad breath. Sometimes, after eating, you may continue to taste an ingredient in your mouth. Some strongly flavored foods are known to have an equally pungent and persistent odor, including for example garlic, onion and highly spiced foods.
- Bad breath following meals is one of the simplest to prevent.
- If you experience an unpleasant taste in your mouth that doesn't seem to be associated with something you've eaten, you may need to resort to additional surgery. It is good to know that bad breath can be a symptom of a throat infection, such as pharyngitis.
Step 3. Use a "Halimeter"
For more severe cases, your dentist may suggest the use of the Halimeter, a tool designed to analyze breath. It is a device similar to that used by the police to detect the presence of alcohol or other particular substances.
- The Halimeter is not meant to cure bad breath, its purpose is to help you identify the causes as accurately as possible. Knowing exactly why you have bad breath will allow you to treat it most effectively.
- Bad breath is usually caused by three chemicals: dimethyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and methyl mercaptan. By detecting them in your breath, you will be more likely to identify treatments to improve your breath.
