Brushing your teeth and tongue
Of course brushing and flossing! Regardless of what you do, there will be germs in your mouth which cause bad breath. Though your mouthwash may destroy the bacteria, it’s very temporary. Therefore, you have to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Otherwise, your mouth will become a breeding ground for bacteria leading to bad breath. Also, do not forget to scrape your tongue with a tongue-cleaner as this is where all the dead cells, food debris and bacteria settle contributing to the foul ell in your mouth.
Floss everyday
Flossing is as important as brushing. You should floss at least once a day to get rid of all the food particles which get stuck in between your teeth, which your brush might not remove.
Stay hydrated
Drinking lots of water can help you keep bad breath at bay. If you don’t drink water for a long time, your mouth becomes dry and this causes bad breath. You always need plenty of saliva as this keeps your mouth clean. Did you know saliva contains oxygen? The oxygen in the saliva deters the growth of bacteria. Your mouth produces very little saliva during the night and this is why you always wake up with a stinky mouth. So drink plenty of water to keep your saliva flowing!
Chew gum
Chewing mints or gums can keep bad breath away. However, this is temporary. You could also try herbs such as mint (pudina), parsley and dill. Even spices such as clove and fennel (sauf) keep your mouth fresh.
Vitamin C
Eating victim C-rich food after meals also helps contain bad breath. So consuming melons, berries and citrus fruits such as oranges/lemons will not just help you boost your vitamin C levels but also combat build-up of bacteria and prevent gingivitis which might lead to chronic bad breath or halitosis.
Green tea
Sip green tea right through the day as it helps in combating bad breath with its antibacterial compounds. Also, you could try using a cinnamon stick to stir your tea as the essential oils in it help fight bad breath.
No cigarettes
Cigarettes might take 20 years to kill you but it takes just two seconds to give you a bad breath. It also brings with it a host of oral infections and diseases. So, keep cigarettes out of your life and breathe fresh.
