4 Ways to Handle Your Bad Breath

To be plain, bad breath stinks.

There are few things worse than having it except maybe a close conversation with someone else who has it! While you can’t change other people’s breath, there are a number of ways you can refresh yours.

1. Maintain good oral health: Bacteria, gum disease, cavities or decaying food particles in the mouth usually cause bad breath. In order to kill the bacteria and thoroughly clean your mouth, it is essential that you brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily and use a tongue scraper.
2. Wet your whistle: Bacteria love a dry mouth! Saliva is your body’s natural defense to clear the mouth of bacteria and help clear away food particles. Without it, bacteria thrive. If you have dry mouth, drinking water will help to keep the bacteria at bay.
3. Know the good food and the bad foods: Some foods are well known to cause bad breath, like garlic and onions. Coffee and alcohol can also contribute to bad breath. On the flip side, there are some foods that actually help freshen breath. Green tea has antibacterial compounds that help to combat bad breath. Mint, parsley, basil, and cinnamon all contain potent essential oils that can help mask bad breath.
4. Mints and chewing gum: While you shouldn’t rely on mints to cover up your own bad breath (you need to treat the root cause), having them on hand could be a life saver if you have to talk or be near someone else that has bad breath. Simply offer a mint or stick of gum, and the problem is solved!

Sources:

• http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=H&iid=306&aid=1254
• http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/bad-breath-good-and-bad-foods
• http://www.livescience.com/33818-coffee-bad-breath-llmmp.html
• http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/hygiene-tips/6-tips-to-cure-bad-breath.htm#page=7