If you’re aware of the fact that you suffer from bad breath, it can have a marked effect on your confidence and life-quality. What’s more, it’s natural to feel as if you’re alone in your plight and that nobody can possibly understand what you’re going through.
In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. For millions of men and women across the UK, bad breath is a reality they find themselves dealing with every day.
The good news being that in all instances, there’s plenty that can be done to combat bad breath. When bad breath is prolonged or particularly severe, it’s a good idea to speak to a doctor or dentist. There may be an underlying cause that needs to be investigated, which in most cases can be treated with relative ease.
For most sufferers of bad breath however, it’s simply a case of determining the best way to beat bad breath on a daily basis. Some methods prove more effective for some people than others, so it’s worth giving as many as possible a try and seeing what happens.
So if you’ve been searching high and low for the best way to beat bad breath, don’t buy into any of the weird and wonderful fads currently doing the rounds online. Instead, try these 10 tried, tested and trusted strategies for building and maintaining fresh breath confidence, throughout the day:
1. Brush and floss three times a day
As a general guideline, brushing and flossing twice a day is the norm. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you cannot step things up to three times daily, if looking to keep your teeth and gums as clean as possible. Just be sure to use a dentist recommended electric toothbrush, ensuring you don’t get carried away with an aggressive or abrasive action. If you ensure your teeth and gums are kept in the best possible condition throughout the day, you’re far less likely to encounter breath issues.
2. Rinse your mouth regularly
It’s amazing how quickly debris and bacteria can accumulate within the mouth. Hence, it’s a good idea (if possible) to keep a small bottle of high-quality mouthwashwith you at all times. Used a handful of times throughout the day, mouthwash can fill the gaps between brushings and keep your mouth in a much better shape. If all else fails, simply rinsing your mouth out with water on a regular basis throughout the day can get rid of at least some of the nasties that are known to cause bad breath.
3. Scrape your tongue
Without getting into graphic detail, the tongue is one of the most effective places in the entire human body for harbouring germs and bacteria. Hence, if you don’t ensure your tongue is kept meticulously clean, you’re pretty much guaranteed bad breath at some point or another. Simply brushing your teeth and gums isn’t enough – you need to scrape your tongue at least 2 to 3 times per day. In doing so, you’ll eliminate enormous quantities of the unpleasant stuff that could be causing the problem.
4. Avoid obvious foods
There are certain foods that are notorious for causing bad breath. Perhaps the most obvious of all being garlic and onions, which are impossible to eliminate entirely – even with frantic brushing and rinsing. If you know you are prone to bad breath, it simply makes sense to avoid anything with the potential to make your breath less fresh than it already is.
5. Stop smoking
Those who smoke – even on an infrequent basis – are almost guaranteed to do a number on their breath. Not to mention, their overall health and wellbeing. Smoking can be absolutely catastrophic for your oral health, staining your teeth and causing the kind of bad breath that can be as fresh as a dirty ashtray. There’s really no benefit to smoking whatsoever, so why not kick the habit right now?
6. Chew gum throughout the day
Contrary to popular belief, chewing sugar-free gum isn’t only about masking bad breath with a minty fragrance. Instead, the chewing action produces more of the mouth’s natural defence – saliva. This in turn helps break down and remove the bacteria and debris that would otherwise decay in your mouth, ultimately affecting the freshness of your breath. Chewing gum throughout the day really can make a big difference
7. Keep your gums healthy
One of the most common causes of prolonged bad breath is gum disease. Contrary to popular belief, the overwhelming majority of adults will develop gum disease to one extent or another during their lifetime. So along with looking after your teeth, you also need to step things up to keep your gums as healthy as possible. Invest in a premium-quality water flosserand you’ll be one step closer to the total oral health and hygiene it takes to combat bad breath.
8. Drink plenty of water
A dry mouth is a sure-fire recipe for bad breath at the best of times. When the mouth is dry, it is unable to efficiently deal with all the debris and bacteria that can quickly cause bad breath. Nevertheless, research suggests that the vast majority of people do not drink the recommended glass of water per day. For those struggling with breath issues of any kind, remaining hydrated is an absolute must. Get yourself into the habit of drinking at least two litres of water per day and you could notice a significant improvement.
9. Minimise alcohol consumption
Like smoking, alcohol consumption can have a number of negative effects on the body. One of which being dehydration – an issue that’s likely to bring on a severe case of dry-mouth. Once again, the importance of remaining adequately hydrated at all times simply cannot be overstated. However fresh or otherwise your breath may be, dehydration can have a catastrophic impact on the body’s ability to perform key functions.
10. See a doctor or dentist
Last but not least, there are countless products and treatments available for bad breath, which may not necessarily be available in your local supermarket . As such, it’s always worth bringing the problem into discussion when you next see your doctor or dentist. There’s every chance they may be able to offer you a fast, effective and affordable solution – one that goes over and above anything listed here!
