Fight Bad Breath Every Day

Bad Breath, also known as halitosis, can result in awkward and embarrassing situations. However, you can fight bad breath with simple changes in your everyday life.

Good Basic Oral Hygiene

At McDowell Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we teach our patients that one of the best ways to fight bad breath is through good basic oral habits. The food particles remaining in our mouths after eating basically rot. Bacteria also uses these particles to form plaque. This process leads to bad breath.

In addition to brushing your teeth, brushing your tongue twice daily will remove odor causing bacteria out of the grooves in your tongue. These grooves are taste buds and bacteria can collect around them. Brushing and flossing regularly, along with regular dental visits, can keep your mouth clean and smelling fresh.

Mouthwash

Brushing and flossing after every meal is ideal, but not necessarily realistic. Although it shouldn’t be used solely to replace brushing and flossing, rinsing with mouthwash after a meal can help clean out food particles and cut down on harmful bacteria. If there’s no mouthwash available, rinse out your mouth well with water.

Smart Eating Habits

Eating well helps keep our smiles healthy and strong. A diet rich in Vitamin C helps prevent gum disease and gingivitis. Foods like berries, melons and citrus fruits instead of supplements are best. Also, crunchy foods like apples, carrots and celery clean teeth naturally. Avoid sugary foods that stick to your teeth, as well as onions and garlic – these continue to cause bad breath while they’re digesting.

Fresh Herbs

Herbs are easy to grow and maintain, and a wide variety help fight bad breath. Choose from spearmint, eucalyptus, cardamom, rosemary, tarragon, and coriander, and chew on them after meals or throughout the day. If you prefer, soak the herbs in hot water and drink like tea!

Stay Fresh

Although brushing and flossing are ideal, there are simple steps to help keep breath fresh during the day. Drink plenty of water, rinsing your mouth out after meals. Although they tend to mask bad breath instead of helping to eradicate it, gum and mints are helpful in a pinch, as long as they’re sugarless.

Fighting bad breath can be done easily using these simple strategies. For more information about how best to fight bad breath, call McDowell Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today at 503-655-4111 for your personal appointment.