Bad breath can be a total confidence killer. Most people think brushing is enough, but bad breath can hide in tiny corners of your mouth, especially when you skip flossing or let your tongue go unchecked. Not to worry! The good news is bad breath is preventable with simple daily habits. With a few small changes to your lifestyle and oral care habits, you can keep your mouth feeling clean and fresh!
Daily Habits That Help Prevent Bad Breath
- Oral Hygiene
Maintaining overall oral hygiene is the most important step in preventing bad breath. Although you are advised to brush your teeth at least twice a day, simply brushing alone is not enough! Food particles and bacteria might be still lingering around your mouth even after brushing. Therefore, it’s necessary to floss, scrap your tongue and use a mouthwash every day when brushing your teeth to ensure overall cleanliness.
Tip: Replace a new toothbrush once every 3 months can help prevent bacteria buildup and improve cleaning effectiveness.
- Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated doesn’t just benefit your body, it helps your breath as well. Saliva is what naturally cleanses your mouth by washing away food particles and bacteria. However, when the mouth is dry, bacteria linger around which causes bad breath. By drinking enough water throughout the day, you’ll prevent dryness and keep bacteria levels under control.
- Adjust Your Diet
You should limit strong-smelling food (garlic, onion, etc.) or certain beverages such as coffee that leave an unpleasant aftertaste that contributes to bad breath. Moreover, sugary items should be reduced too as these foods cause tooth decay and gum diseases.
Tip: Bring along a set of oral travel kit or mouthwash in sachets for a quick cleanse after meals to maintain fresh breath (chewing gum does help too!)
- Quit Smoking
Smoking in general is damaging to your oral health. Not only you’ll get an unpleasant mouth odour, but smokers are also much more prone to oral infections, which is another source of bad breath.
- Keep Your Braces & Retainers Clean
Orthodontic appliances can align and beautify your teeth, however they are bacteria causing tools that would cause bad breath if not cleaned properly. By cleaning your oral appliances regularly, bad breath can be prevented effectively. If you have braces, get an interdental brush to properly clean all the crevices of your teeth. For retainer users, get a non-abrasive retainer cleaner that would not only remove odour causing bacteria but help lift stains.
What You Should Do Annually: Dental Check Up
It’s recommended to visit your dentist at least once a year to ensure your overall oral health is in good shape. Gum disease and oral infections are one of the factors that causes bad breath. Yearly visits to the dentist will help you to get a thorough diagnosis and treat oral diseases as soon as possible!
