Everything You Need to Know About Bad Breath
Medications
Some prescription and over-the-counter medications come with the troubling side effect of dry mouth that causes smelly breath. Certain medications also have a tendency to release breath-wrecking chemicals as they break down inside your body. If you take medications that alter your breath, be extra careful about keeping your teeth clean.
Medical conditions that can lead to bad breath
Although they are not as prevalent as the causes mentioned above, several health conditions are known to facilitate halitosis. Postnasal drip, chronic infections, and metabolic disorders can cause bad breath. So can gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Digestive disorders may also lead to troublesome breath.
DIY breath freshening tips
Nobody wants to blast bad breath into a pleasant conversation, right? Cultivate and keep good dental hygiene habits, and you’ll seriously lessen your risk of offending friends and co-workers.
Brush and floss after meals and snacks
You’ve heard this one all your life, because it’s absolutely true. Brush your teeth when you wake up in the morning, brush after every meal, and floss between your teeth at least once each day to keep your mouth clean, healthy, and fresh. Wet your brush, apply just a dab of toothpaste, and brush, brush, brush.
Move the bristles up and down, then move them side to side to ensure you properly clean all surfaces of your teeth. Don’t give up after a few seconds. A thorough job requires at least one minute of vigorous brushing. Once you’re done with that, go ahead and floss between teeth. Waxed or un-waxed, mint flavored or plain, dental floss gets into tight places that your toothbrush can’t reach. Don’t forget to replace your toothbrush every few months, as well.
Scrub or scrape your tongue, too
Before your final rinse and spit, brush the surface of your tongue to remove remaining food particles and reduce the proliferation of bacteria. Many people find oral hygiene success with a special plastic or bamboo scraper made especially for tongue cleaning.