Unless you are commonly eating garlic, onions, and other foul-smelling foods, you may be at a loss as to why you experience bad breath so frequently. Fortunately, chronic halitosis isn't something that you need to accept, and there are several strategies that you can take to prevent this condition. Instead of letting bad breath rule your life, try following a few simple steps in order to freshen up your mouth.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Taking a strong approach to keeping your mouth clean is one of the most important ways to fend off bad breath. To keep your mouth healthy, it's imperative that you follow the teeth care recommendations of your dentist, including regularly brushing and flossing after you eat each meal. Select an antibacterial mouthwash to keep mouth infections at bay, and look for
ingredients including chlorhexidine and chlorine dioxide. It is also important to visit your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup, as cavities and other dental problems can lead to terrible breath.
Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you notice that you are suddenly dealing with chronic bad breath, you may want to rule out your prescriptions as the cause. Certain drugs that you may need to treat a medical condition can result foul breath as a side effect, and antidepressants are a major culprit. Other drugs like
antihistamines or medications that you take to control high blood pressure can also result in dry mouth, a condition that can leave you with terrible breath.
Make Some Dietary Changes
If you are experiencing bad breath, the foods that you put into your mouth should be an obvious consideration. Most dentists will agree that adding fresh fruits and vegetables to your meals can help to clean your teeth naturally by ridding your mouth of plaque and other food particles. If you have braces, this is especially important, as debris that is stuck in your orthodontic hardware can result in bad breath. As an added bonus, filling your diet with fruits and veggies can lead to numerous health benefits, including high Bad Breathdoses of nutrients that are essential for your overall dental health.
Find a Great Sugarless Gum
Dry mouth is a major culprit when it comes to bad breath, as saliva is one of the best defenses at keeping your mouth free of odors. By finding a sugarless gum that you enjoy, you can stimulate the production of saliva in order to combat bad breath. The sugar substitute xylitol is also known to reduce cavity-causing bacteria, which maximizes the oral health benefits of chewing a piece of sugar-free gum.
Taking care of your overall health, in addition to your oral health, is essential in the fight against bad breath. By taking a proactive approach to keeping foul-smelling odors out of your mouth, you'll enjoy fresh breath in no time.
