Know Simple Ways to Get Rid of Bad Breath

A foul odour emanating from the mouth can be quite an awful situation. The unpleasant reek in your mouth often strikes when people aren't properly taking care of their oral health. A simple brushing and flossing routine can keep bad breath at bay. Read on to know how to get rid of bad breath easily to avoid embarrassing situations.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Experts suggest that our tongue microscopically is filled with millions of filaments that trap tiny food particles and bacteria, which can lead to bad breath. Some common triggers of bad breath are:

• Improper brushing
• Dry mouth
• Gum disease
• Teeth cavities
• A low carb diet
• Alcohol
• Tobacco and cigarettes
• Acidity
• Lung infection
• Certain medications

The chances of bad breath due to an underlying disease are very low.

Foods that lead to bad breath

• Onions and Garlic: Onion and garlic have sulfur compounds present in them which produces a peculiar kind of smell
• Milk and Cheese: Milk and cheese are rich in proteins, thus, a feeding ground to these anaerobic bacteria in your mouth
• Coffee: Coffee contains acids. Black coffee adds to the 'soups' of bacteria-filled saliva which blocks the release of gases leaving a sour metallic taste in your mouth
• Alcohol: Alcohol causes dry mouth and a dry oral environment aids in the increased production of sulfur compounds in the mouth
• Fish: Fish is rich in proteins and feeds to the bacteria converting proteins into sulfur compounds

Here are some ways by which you can tackle bad breath:

Brushing your teeth and scraping your tongue

A clean tongue goes a long way in warding off bad breath. Brushing should be the first thing every morning, and also after every time you take a nap. Doctors advise to use a tongue scraper as a daily regimen after brushing. The key is to do it gently and to rinse your mouth thoroughly afterwards to remove dead cells, food particles and bacteria from the tongue. Foul-smelling bacteria have a chance to take over your mouth while you are sleeping which is the main cause of stinky breath.

Rinsing and flossing

It is very important that after every single meal one rinses and flosses so that the germs, bacteria, and plaque around the teeth and inside the mouth are killed.

Also read: Learn how to floss your teeth properly with these easy tips

Rinse your mouth thoroughly and gargle with fresh and cool water

After you brush your teeth and scrape your tongue, this is a very important step, one that many people may overlook. Nobody likes to smell your breath when it's laden with toothpaste scum. Rinse your mouth properly with cool and fresh water to keep your mouth fresh.

Drinking water will help keep your mouth moist

Experts recommend that drinking a half lemon mixed with warm water will help in stimulating saliva which controls odour-causing enzymes.

Chew a gum

Saliva is your best weapon against bad breath as it washes away food particles and bacteria’s further eliminating bad odour.  Chewing gum mechanically washes bacteria out as it makes you salivate, and the more saliva you have in your mouth the fewer bacteria you have. 

On other hand, doctors suggest that mints should not be preferred to gum. This is because mints usually don't stimulate saliva production but on the contrary they temporarily mask bad odour.

Also read: Your Mouthwash can be Toxic! Know how to make natural mouthwash at home

Fixing bad breath- The kitchen way!

• Chewing one clove after every meal daily will help dealing with bad breath. 
• Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and lettuces are well-known for assisting the body in maintaining fresh breath. 
• Drinking pineapple juice will keep away the foul smell from the mouth.
• Try chewing fresh peppermint, spearmint, parsley or basil.
• For cleaning ones tongue, one must gargle with baking soda dissolved in warm water.
• An apple a day can keep the bad breath away as it removes the bacteria causing bad breath.

While most bad breath can be banished with these simple hygienic steps, there are times when dental or medical conditions might be the culprit. Rockland Hospital’s maxillofacial surgeon Dr Dhirendra Shrivastav would say that even educated people lack awareness about oral hygiene. “They come to a doctor only when they have pain,” he says.

So before your condition becomes worse, make an appointment with your dentist to ward off the unsavoury odour residing in your mouth.

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