There is nothing worse than that nagging worry that you are breathing hot dragon breath on innocent by-standers. I am kind of obsessive about keeping my breath in check–mostly because I’ve been on the receiving end of buffalo breath, and my friends, I do not like it. Also, with all of the dental work I’ve had done over the years, I have a lot of people near my mouth or close-up and personal with my face, so I like to do what I can to keep things on the fresh side.
Chronic bad breath does not necessarily have anything to do with poor oral hygiene. Sometimes it starts from bacteria in the mouth, but a lot of times, it starts in your gut and works it’s way up. Whatever the cause, here are some ways to keep it at bay:
- Brush and floss religiously. Duh, I know. But, who hasn’t slacked off on at least flossing from time to time? The problem is that brushing doesn’t always get all of the food that can contribute to odor causing bacteria. Flossing ensures none of the stink gets stuck.
- You know that piece of parsley restaurants put on the plate? Well, it turns out it’s not just a garnish. Chewing on fresh parsley after a meal can clean your teeth naturally {and it encourages saliva, which helps fight odor causing bacteria}.
- Your diet might be to blame. Studies have shown people who eat diets low in carbs have higher incidence of halitosis {bad breath}. Apparently low carb diets release ketones {chemicals that can which can contribute to bad breath}.
- Increase your water intake. Water helps to rinse the mouth.
- Make sure you are cleaning your tongue too. It can harbor bacteria just like the teeth.
- Acid reflux can contribute significantly to bad breath. If acid reflux is an issue, make sure to manage it with medicine and/or diet.
- Eat “natural toothbrushes,” like apples, raw carrots and celery. Their structures helps them to clean your mouth as you chew.
- Drink tea. Tea has antioxidants that make it more difficult for plaque to build up. Plaque can get a bit stinky, so less plaque is a good thing.
- Eat regularly. An empty stomach can cause acid to build up in your gut, and bam, next thing you know that acid is making your breath smell bad. Plus, eating promotes saliva, which again, helps clean the mouth.
- Try a probiotic. If you keep your mouth immaculate, your diet is fairly clean, and you know you drink plenty of water, it may be that your system is off-balance. Try a good bacteria promoting probiotic, or snack on probiotic rich foods like yogurt.
Do you have any tricks you use to keep your breath fresh?
~Mavis
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