Fresh breath not only makes you more confident when communicating, but also reflects the health of your teeth and body. On the contrary, bad breath can come from oral hygiene problems, diet or even diseases.
In addition to regular dental visits, you can completely improve your breath by adding beneficial foods and applying simple measures at home.
Effective solutions to improve bad breath
1. Use a toothbrush and dental floss
To treat bad breath at home, it is important to master the basics first. Brushing and flossing are the foundation of good oral care. If not done regularly, food particles will stick in the mouth, causing plaque buildup, bacteria and bad breath.
So, brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to help reduce plaque, bacteria and food particles that cause odor. This can also help prevent periodontal disease, which can also cause bad breath.
2. Clean your tongue
Paying special attention to your tongue when brushing your teeth can also be a great way to treat bad breath at home. When bacteria and amino acids (which are produced when proteins break down) combine, sulfuric compounds form on the tongue and in the mouth, causing an unpleasant sulfur-like odor.
Gently brushing your tongue with a toothbrush and using a tongue scraper on its back surface can help reduce this bacteria, freshening your breath.
3. Use mouthwash
Mouthwash can quickly freshen your breath and prevent bad breath caused by certain foods. Adding an antibacterial mouthwash to your oral care routine can also reduce plaque and gingivitis, leaving your mouth smelling fresh.
4. Hydrate
When your mouth doesn’t have enough moisture to produce saliva, dry mouth and odor-causing bacteria can develop. Dry mouth can be caused by dehydration and a number of other things, including medication side effects, health conditions, and illnesses. Dry mouth can also happen when you sleep, especially if you snore or have sleep apnea. And it can also happen after intense exercise, when you’re not only dehydrated but also more likely to breathe through your mouth.
Drinking water is an easy way to reduce dry mouth and bad breath. Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day, and start your morning with a glass of water to help flush out bacteria that have built up overnight. Track how much water you drink each day. This is an easy way to see if your water intake is affecting your breath.
5. Avoid smelly foods
We all know that certain foods, like onions and raw garlic, can affect the smell of your breath. Cutting down on or avoiding these foods can help fight bad breath, but they’re not the only culprit. Limit the following foods and drinks: Tea, coffee, alcohol, fish, sugary foods and spicy foods.
6. Eat more foods that help freshen your breath
Many folk remedies for bad breath originate in the kitchen. You can use the following foods and drinks to have fresh breath:
- Milk: A glass of milk can help neutralize the bad breath from strong-smelling foods like onions and garlic. Milk is also known to help neutralize acids that can cause tooth decay and tooth erosion.
- Yogurt: The beneficial bacteria in yogurt can help control odor-causing bacteria in the mouth and is also beneficial for gut health. However, make sure to choose plain or naturally flavored yogurt, as many yogurts have added sugar that can make bad breath worse.
- Crunchy fruits and vegetables: They have a scrubbing effect on the teeth, helping to remove plaque. Chewing thoroughly also stimulates saliva production, which helps wash away food particles and odor-causing bacteria. Some, such as apples, also contain compounds that neutralize compounds found in smelly foods like garlic.
- Pineapple: Eating pineapple and pineapple juice freshens your breath. However, rinse your mouth with water afterwards to protect your teeth from the high acid and sugar content.
- Fresh herbs: Chewing fresh herbs like mint or parsley has long been known to help with bad breath. They help neutralize sulfur compounds and are antibacterial, and of course mint leaves a pleasant fresh scent!
- Fennel or anise seeds: These aromatic seeds have been used as breath fresheners since ancient times. They contain sweet-smelling essential oils that are released when chewed.
