Did you know that bad breath is a regular problem for a quarter of adults in the UK? It’s true: 25% of British adults routinely suffer from unpleasant smelling breath.
If you’re a sufferer of bad breath, then the good news is that you don’t need to be. There’s plenty of ways to fight bad breath (or halitosis, as it’s also called). In this blog post, we’ll go over the ways you can prevent bad breath and keep your mouth smelling nice and clean.
1. Brush often
Brushing your teeth is a great way to prevent bad breath. Brushing not only kills the bad bacteria that produce smelly chemicals, but it also dislodges leftover bits of food stuck in your mouth. Furthermore, most brands of toothpaste contain ingredients such as mint which help to freshen your breath. So do try to brush your teeth twice a day – once in the morning and once before going to bed.
2. Floss once a day
Flossing is another important weapon in the fight against bad breath. It’s a great oral hygiene tool because it dislodges food stuck between your teeth. In other words, floss can reach places that your toothbrush can’t. So while your toothbrush should be the cornerstone in your battle against halitosis, make sure to use floss too.
3. Use mouthwash
Mouthwash is another effective way to combat bad breath. It often contains special antibacterial ingredients that help to keep the bad bacteria in your mouth under check. Furthermore, most brands of mouthwash contain ingredients such as chlorine dioxide, which helps to neutralise bad smells in your mouth.
4. Use a tongue scraper
We’ll admit that tongue scrapers are not all that common – do you know anyone who actually uses one? However, they can be a great tool to fight bad breath. This is because your tongue is a place where bacteria often accumulates. The bacteria then create smelly sulphur compounds that cause bad breath. So if you’re serious about eliminating your halitosis, then considering using a tongue scraper every night to keep your tongue nice and clean.
5. Use chewing gum
If none of the other methods has worked, then why not try chewing gum? It’s been shown that chewing gum can actually freshen your breath by encouraging your mouth to produce more saliva – this, in turn, helps to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. And of course, most brands of chewing gum are flavoured, which can temporarily alleviate bad breath by masking bad smells. If you do use chewing gum though, make sure to choose a sugar-free version so you don’t encourage the formation of cavities!
6. See a medical professional
If all else fails, then it’s time to seek professional help. This can be a dentist or a doctor. Although it’s unlikely, your bad breath might be a symptom of an underlying issue, such as diabetes, gastritis or a liver problem. Don’t be too worried though, as most cases of bad breath aren’t caused by anything serious, and they clear up once your oral hygiene improves. So get out that toothbrush!