Having a bad breath can kill all your charisma and good looks. Imagine a scenario where a person spots you from afar for your good looks and approaches to get acquainted, only to get a whiff of your bad breath as soon as they approach. What do you think their general impression would be?
It’s not just that the breath is bad; it’s about the fact that it’s indicative of overall bad hygiene on your part.
So, how do you avoid all of this and keep your breath fresh throughout the day? Here are a few tips.
- Regularly brush and floss
There’s no going around it; you have to brush and floss; however, doing it early in the morning and late at night isn’t going to cut it. You also need to brush and floss after every meal.
There are a few reasons why your breath might not be fresh enough, and one of them is that you still have leftover food in your mouth, usually between your teeth. If you don’t believe us, make a quick experiment. Wait an hour or so after a meal and go flossing. After you’re done, smell the dental floss. Yeah, that was in your mouth, so are you really surprised?
The general rule is that if you think you can smell it, other people can definitely smell it. This is why it’s so important that you do it as regularly as possible.
You also want to use mouthwash, seeing as how it can penetrate even the areas that floss would be unable to reach. Now, in the past, you had to carry a bottle of mouthwash with you (since they weren’t universally available). Today, on the other hand, you can find automatic mouthwash dispensers in a lot of workplaces and public spaces.
- Regularly check in with your dentist
The next thing you have to do is go to your dentist every now and then. This has multiple benefits.
First, you go to someone who will always tell you if your breath is bad. Not only that but they’ll immediately have a diagnosis of why this is the case. It could be that your plaque has already formed into tartar, or you may have a dead tooth. Either way, checking in with your dentist will make all the difference in the world.
Speaking of tartare, did you know that it only takes about 20 hours for the plaque to start forming on your teeth? This means that if you’re somewhere out with no access to the bathroom but you do snack and have a coffee and soft drink or two, by the time you come home, the process might have already started.
Once tartar forms, it will be impossible to remove it without proper dental instruments. No amount of brushing will help, and trying to scrape it off yourself may even damage your teeth. This is why it’s best to leave this to a professional. Even if there’s no bad breath present (yet), it might be good to go for some cleanup once every 5-6 months.
- Stay hydrated
When your mouth is dry, this might escalate into you having bad breath.
Namely, saliva is in charge of cleaning your mouth, removing particles that cause bad odor, and keeping your oral cavity fresh, in general.
If you don’t believe us, just ask yourself why your breath is the worst early in the morning. After all, you probably brushed, flossed, and used mouthwash the night before (just before going to bed). You didn’t eat anything after brushing, which means that there is no leftover food in your mouth. Moreover, since there are no materials that can cause the formation of plaque and not enough time has passed for tartar to form, all other possibilities are eliminated.
The only explanation is that your mouth is dry!
This is always the case. If you otherwise have fresh breath, the lack of hydration will make it bad. If you don’t have the freshest breath to begin with, a dry mouth will make it worse.
Now, while there’s not much you can do during your sleep, what you can do throughout the day is stay hydrated. Drink water (that’s right, no soft drinks, tea, or coffee).
Also, avoid substances that additionally dehydrate you (like alcohol). While it is a liquid, it won’t hydrate you, and it will only make matters worse. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of whiskey every now and then, but do these things in moderation.
- Adjust your diet
The best way to keep your mouth fresh throughout the day is to avoid food that causes bad breath and eat healthy snacks. Apples, carrots, and celery will not only serve as a healthy source of nutrients, but they’ll also increase the saliva flow.
It goes without saying that onions, garlic, and certain spices will only make matters worse.
It’s not just what you eat; it’s when and how you eat that matters, as well. You see, taking a snack at work can be quite problematic for a number of reasons. First, you might not have the time or the equipment to brush, floss, and rinse your mouth with mouthwash. This means that the leftovers will remain in your mouth for hours and hours.
Ideally, you would avoid sticky food, sugary food, and foods that easily get stuck between your teeth. If you can’t brush or floss, you should at least rinse. If you can get your hands on a toothpick, it could be an amazing addition to your routine.
Keep in mind that the majority of meals that you order from a cafeteria or nearby vendor come with a toothpick. If not, you can always ask for one. They usually have it and will give it to you.
Wrap up
Ultimately, keeping your breath fresh takes a continuous effort. All of the above-listed have to be done on a regular basis (or for as long as you want to keep your breath fresh). Now, the key thing to remember is that these tips don’t just keep your breath fresh; they also keep your teeth and gums healthy. This alone is worth far more, and you get it as a positive side effect.
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