Bad Breath: Causes and Solutions
Try as you might to keep your mouth fresh and clean throughout the day, bad breath is something that affects us all at one time or another. And aside from social embarrassment, bad breath can also be a symptom of ongoing problems in your mouth! So how can you tell why your breath is bad? And how can you make sure your breath stays fresh? Read on for our top tips for a better smelling and fresher feeling mouth!
What is Bad Breath?
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, has many different causes, from bad oral hygiene to the consumption of certain foods and drinks, such as garlic and milk! Drinks and medications that cause dry mouth can contribute to bad breath by trapping bacteria in the mouth. Sometimes it can be unclear whether bad breath is the problem itself, or a symptom of something else, such as gum disease! If you make all the appropriate lifestyle changes and maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine but are finding that your breath is regularly bad, make sure to see your dentist to find out if there are any underlying issues causing it.
How to Keep Your Breath Fresh
- Maintain Your Routine
The simplest but most important way to stave off bad breath is to make sure you’re keeping up with your daily dental hygiene routine of brushing twice daily and flossing. If this is not easy to achieve with your lifestyle, try to find solutions rather than allowing yourself to miss a session! For instance, if you find that you stay out or away from home often, invest in a good quality travel toothbrush!
- Wash Your Mouth Out
Help your mouth to keep your breath fresh by promoting saliva production and making sure your mouth is being washed out regularly. Simple ways to achieve this are to stay hydrated by sipping on water or chewing on sugar-free gum!
- Eat the Right Foods
Some foods not only don’t give you bad breath, but actually help you to keep it away! Crunchy and fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots, promote saliva production and even decrease the bacteria on the surface of your teeth!
- Spice Up Your Mouth
Some herbs and spices have strong flavours which counteract bad breath and help your mouth to feel fresh, such as peppermint or rosemary. Herb blends have actually been used to keep breath fresh since Ancient Greece! If you’re not a fan of munching on raw rosemary leaves, try brewing them for a few minutes in boiling water and drink the infusion instead.
- Ginger Over Gingivitis
Ginger is a known palette cleanser (think of the pickled ginger you nibble on between sushi rolls, for example) and has special compounds which actively break down enzymes and fight odour-creating components in the mouth! Much like with herbs, if you can’t stomach eating chunks of raw ginger, an infusion will do the trick!