HOW TO ELIMINATE BAD BREATH? 10 QUICK TIPS

Unfortunately, we can’t smell our own breath very easily, so if you have a bad case of halitosis, you will probably be the last person to know about. Everyone gets bad breath sometimes. It can be caused by the food you eat, plaque on your teeth, cavities, or even dehydration. It can be very embarrassing, though, so if you do suffer from bad breath sometimes, read tense ten quick and easy tips on how to eliminate bad breath.

1. Visit your dentist

If you notice that your breath persistently smells and nothing you do seems to correct the problem, then you really should take a trip to the dentist and get it checked out. Bad breath can be caused by cavities or by gum disease, so the sooner you get a check-up, the better. Bad breath can also sometimes be caused by internal medical problems and your dentists will be able to advise if they think that is what could be causing your bad beneath problem, in which case, a visit to your doctor would be in order.

2. Brush your teeth twice a day

Good oral hygiene is often the simplest answer to bad breath problems. You should be brushing your teeth in the morning, and at night before you go to bed. Each time you brush your teeth, take your time and brush them thoroughly for at least three minutes. If your bad breath persists, try brushing with baking soda. That will reduce the acidity in your mouth and make it harder for bacteria to grow.

3. Drink more water

If your mouth gets dry, then that can cause bad breath too. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and that will flush away any food particles that may have got trapped between your teeth. It will also flush away the bacteria that cause bad breath, so drink at least eight glasses of water a day so that you keep yourself properly hydrated.

4. Brush your tongue

When you brush your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue as well. Bacteria can breed on your tongue and that might be what is causing your and breath. You can buy special tongue scrapers to do this with, or you can just use your toothbrush or a tablespoon. Either way, to keep your breath fresh, you need to keep your tongue clean, as well as your teeth.

5. Chew gum

A dry mouth and pieces of food between your teeth will provide just the right environment for the bacteria that cause bad breath to feed and breed. If you chew on some sugar free gum, that will stimulate the production of saliva, which will help to flush the bacteria away. Chewing the gum will also help to dislodge any food particles.

6. Eat parsley

The parsley that is on your plate in a restaurant could save you from bad breath embarrassment. Parsley is a good source of chlorophyll, which works as a natural breath freshener, so finish your meal by eating a sprig of parsley and it will help stop bad breath developing. Chlorophyll is what makes leaves green, so any green vegetables will help you combat bad breath.

7. Drink tea

Both green and black tea can help you combat bad breath. Tea contains antibacterial ingredients that will kill the microbes that create bad breath. It also contains polyphenols that will neutralise the sulphur compounds in your mouth, which are what cause the unpleasant odour.

8. Avoid spicy food

Foods like garlic and onions will always have a bad effect on your breath, so if you are experiencing bad breath in the afternoons, it could be your choice of food at lunchtime that is the cause if the problem. Avoid all spicy food, especially garlic and onions, because very strong flavoured food get into the bloodstream and the odour can be exhaled through your lungs, so no amount of washing out your mouth will stop the bad breath.

9. Floss

Floss regularly and that will remove all the last traces of food from between your teeth. When food gets trapped between your teeth, bacteria feed off it and break it down, and then it is when the bad odour occurs. Flossing regularly is an important part of oral hygiene, because it also removes plaque and it will help stop you developing gum disease.

10. Use an antibacterial mouthwash

Giving your mouth a final rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash will help to kill the bacteria that you can’t reach with your toothbrush. There are plenty of mouthwashes available in the stores, but if you would like to make your own, here’s a great recipe for a cinnamon based home-made mouthwash. Just mix the ingredients, let the mouthwash cool, and then store it in an airtight container until you are ready to use it.

• ½ tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Juice of two limes
• Cup of warm water