If you’ve ever been embarrassed by bad breath, then you probably resolved then and there to never be embarrassed by it again. For some people, that’s easy, but for others, keeping their breath consistently fresh might prove a bit more challenging. With the exception of more serious dental issues, like tooth decay and gum disease, most cases of bad breath are caused by things like inadequate hygiene or mild dehydration. These tips can help you prevent bad breath from causing you embarrassment, though if your bad breath persists, then you should schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible.
1. Keep your tongue clean.
When you wake up in the morning, your first instinct may be to brush your teeth to rid your mouth of offensive morning breath. However, if you don’t clean your tongue as well, then oral bacteria can gather on it, releasing foul-smelling sulfur compounds that lead to chronic bad breath. Be sure to brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth, preferably with a tongue-scraper designed specifically for that purpose.
2. Don’t skip breakfast.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for several reasons. For instance, eating a well-balanced meal when you first wake up kick-starts the flow of saliva that has slowed over night as you sleep. As saliva slows, oral bacteria gather more efficiently, hence the bad breath you experience each morning. Eat breakfast before brushing your teeth so that your saliva can help break up deposits of bad breath-causing oral bacteria and plaque.
3. Drink plenty of water.
Even when you don’t sleep, your saliva flow can dry up, especially if you’re dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps fight bad breath on two fronts; the water rinses away bad breath bacteria, and also helps you sustain a natural flow of saliva that does the same.