Dental hygiene isn’t just about having healthy teeth, it’s also about having fresh breath. If you suffer from bad breath, use these 11 tips from our Columbus, Ohio dentist to have the freshest breath of your life, all the time.
1. Brush Your Tongue
One of the main sources of bad breath stems from bacteria known as anaerobic bacteria. This type of bacteria doesn’t like oxygen so it nestles itself into your mouth’s deepest areas including around your tongue. It’s important to clean your tongue either with a tongue scraper or by brushing it with your toothbrush every time you brush your teeth to remove this bacteria.
2. Gargle Oxygenated Mouthwash
Another way to kill off the anaerobic bacteria in your mouth is by gargling an oxygenated mouthwash. This also kills off the bacteria in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth like your tonsils.
3. Stay Hydrated
You can also keep your breath fresh by staying hydrated throughout the day. Since dry mouth is one of the leading causes of bad breath, drinking lots of water throughout the day can help your mouth flush out the stink-causing bacteria from your mouth.
4. Rinse with Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
After you finish brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash. It’s important to not use an alcoholic mouthwash because alcohol dries out your mouth, thus leading to more bacteria growth.
5. Eat an Apple or Other Crunchy Fruits and Veggies
Keep your breath fresh by snacking on carrots, apples, celery or other crunchy fruits and vegetables. The texture of the food will scrape bacteria off your teeth acting as a natural toothbrush.
6. Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Chewing sugar-free gum that contains xylitol is an easy way to freshen your breath throughout the day. Chewing gum stimulates saliva flow which washes away bacteria, while gum helps remove food particles that have been left behind.
7. Eat Probiotics
Eating foods that contain probiotics is also another way to freshen your breath. A healthy gut leads to healthy breath. Kefir, and yogurt contain natural probiotics to increase the good bacteria in your gut to fight off the bad bacteria that cause bad breath.
8. Brush and Floss Regularly
Maintaining proper dental hygiene is essential for fresh breath. Make sure to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove food particles and bacteria from your mouth.
9. Chew on Parsley or Mint Leaves
If you’re short on time and want to freshen your breath at a restaurant, ask for some parsley or mint leaves to chew on. Mint leaves freshen your breath while parsley fights against the sulfur compounds in bad breath.
10. Don’t Smoke
Tobacco products are one of the leading causes of bad breath. Not only do cigarettes smell bad, but the smell lingers around in your mouth. Cigarettes interfere with your immune system which makes it easier for gum disease to form which ultimately leads to bad breath.
11. Visit the Dentist Regularly
It’s important to visit your dentist every 6 months for your regular dental exam and cleaning. This appointment helps identify problems going on in your mouth and how to treat them. Your cleaning removes all of the plaque and tartar from your mouth that may be causing your bad breath.
If you suffer from bad breath or you’re overdue for a dental appointment, give us a call at (614) 848-5001 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Firouzian today.
