9 Tips From Your Dentist on Fighting Bad Breath

It is an embarrassing but common problem. Luckily for you, if you suffer from halitosis, or bad breath, there are things you can do to make the situation better.

So, we’re going to give you 9 tips backed by science that should help you get your bad breath under control.

9. Good Oral Hygiene

The first step in combating bad breath is to make sure you brush your teeth and floss regularly. This limits bad breath and stops the problem at its root for the most part. Poor oral practices definitely contribute to bad breath so you can be sure that if you don’t take care of your teeth your breath will stink.

8. Stay Hydrated

Don’t get dehydrated. A dry mouth often contributes to bacterial growth, tooth decay, and bad breath. The easiest way to avoid this is to make sure you get plenty to drink at all times.

7. Chew Sugar Free Gum

Avoid gum with sugar in it as sugar provides fuel for bacteria that cause bad breath. Sugar free gum can help you conquer this problem and keep it permanently at bay.

6. Cut Out Dietary Culprits

If you know that eating certain types of food or drinks cause your breath to be bad then you need to avoid those. It might seem simple but for some of us it is easier said than done. Just know that if you love garlic, you might have to go the extra mile to keep your breath fresh.

5. Eat Zinc Rich Foods

Eating foods rich in zinc can help you prevent bad breath because zinc is a natural antimicrobial that prevents the bacteria which cause bad breath from propagating.

4. Chew Parsley

Chewing parsley after a meal has been shown to have beneficial effects for your breath in keeping it fresh and clean.

3. Use Natural Oils

One solution that many people like in this area is lemon tree oil which is a natural astringent that helps keep your mouth clean and eliminates odor-causing bacteria. The best part about this solution is that there are many ways to incorporate oils into your oral care regimen and diet.

2. Quit Smoking

Probably the single biggest boost in your fight against bad breath is to quit smoking if you currently do. Not only does smoke leave a distinctly unpleasant odor on its own but also it contributes to dehydrating and the drying of the mouth that causes bacteria to grow.

1. Go to Your Dentist Regularly

Another important component of your battle against bad breath is to make sure you go to your dentist on regularly scheduled checkups. Your dentist is one of your biggest allies in this fight and can provide real insights into how to combat bad breath.

Of course, if you do all of the following and see no improvement you should probably consult a medical professional as frequent bad breath can be indicative of more serious health problems.

Call Us to make an appointment – (626) 287-2625.