5 Ways to Get Fresh Breath

Everyone appreciates a fresh-smelling mouth. But many people are unaware that they can prevent this by brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and seeing their dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. To learn more about how to get fresh breath, keep reading:

Rinse with Mouthwash

Use an alcohol-free mouthwash after brushing for fresher breath. The alcohol in mouthwash can dry out the mouth, causing bad breath to return more quickly. Alcohol also tends to irritate the gum tissue, which can cause bleeding and irritation. Use a rinse that kills plaque-causing bacteria but doesn’t contain alcohol. This will help your breath to stay fresh longer.

Clean Your Tongue

You may also want to try using a tongue scraper to gently remove bacteria from the surface of your tongue. This can help reduce the bacteria that lead to bad breath.

Watch What You Eat

Certain foods can increase odor-causing compounds in the mouth, which can contribute to bad breath. Onions and garlic are some of the biggest culprits; they can cause the scent of your bad breath to travel through the air when you exhale. Try to avoid foods like onions and garlic, which are known for causing bad breath. Also, be mindful when eating fish, eggs, and other high-protein foods that sit out for a while before you eat them. These foods break down into sulfur compounds that can cause an unpleasant smell. When consuming protein-rich foods, rinse your mouth out with water or brush your teeth afterward to remove the leftover residue from these foods.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps keep your body hydrated and helps wash away any debris on your tongue that can get stuck and cause smelly breath. Staying hydrated also helps keep your breath smelling fresh by removing the bacteria that build up and causes odors. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water per day to stay well-hydrated and keep your mouth clean.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking can lead to bad breath by causing dry mouth, which results from a lack of saliva production in the mouth. Saliva helps wash away food particles and bacteria from the mouth and cleans the teeth and gums by removing plaque. A lack of saliva also leads to more odor-causing sulfur compounds from anaerobic bacteria remaining in the mouth after brushing or flossing. These odors are a result of the breakdown of proteins into various gaseous products called volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). Smoking cessation yields immediate results in terms of fresher breath. Quitting any bad habit can be beneficial to your health in many ways, including reducing your risk of gum disease and oral cancer.

If you are suffering from bad breath, contact Healthy Smiles of Saint Louis at 4224 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63109, or call (314) 832-1366.