We all experience “morning breath” – that is when odor-causing bacteria festering in your mouth all night comes out in full force after you wake, but for some people, bad breath lasts a lot longer than just a few minutes each morning. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 30 percent of the world’s population suffers from bad breath.
Bad breath can originate from various sources, including cavities, gum disease, dentures, medical conditions or from just an all-around poor oral health routine. The good news, however, is that bad breath is not impossible to overcome. In addition to just putting more of a focus on proper brushing and flossing, there are a number of natural, convenient ways that you can tackle bad breath.
6 Natural Ways to Fight Bad Breath
- Drink lots of water: Drinking lots of water can help wash away odor-causing bacteria and plaque and help prevent dry mouth.
- Keep it clean: Replace your toothbrush at least once a quarter, but preferably every two to three months.
- Eat more crunchy foods: Crunchy foods help clean the teeth, so try increasing the amount of apple slices, carrots, celery and walnuts that you consume. There’s a reason why they call these foods “nature’s toothbrush.”
- Eat acidic fruit: Oranges and lemons contain citric acid, which can help stimulate salivary glands and help freshen your breath. Just be sure to rinse your mouth with water following this.
- Chew sugarless gum: Gum also helps prevent against dry mouth. It can also freshen your breath and help minimize bacteria and plaque buildup.
- Cut out the smokes: Smoking isn’t just bad for your heart and lungs, but it can stain your teeth and wreak havoc on your gums – both of the latter which can lead to bad breath.
Now that we’ve covered some natural ways to give your breath that extra oomph of freshness, it’s worth mentioning that the most important thing you can do to combat foul breath is to up the ante on your oral health. This includes the likes of:
- Seeing your dentist twice a year for a checkup and professional teeth cleaning.
- Brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once per day.
- Scraping your tongue with your toothbrush or spoon to remove bacteria and any coating that forms.
- If applicable, removing your dentures every night so that they can be properly cleaned to eliminate bacteria and any food debris.
- Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash after brushings.
While bad breath might be present for you currently, it doesn’t have to be this way permanently. As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do to manage it and eliminate it for good.
For more information on natural ways to fight bad breath, as well as how you should be adjusting your oral routine, contact Caven Dental today.
