Bad breath is unpleasant and embarrassing. It can affect your personal and professional life. It can even cause people to lose their self-confidence. If you have bad breath, these tips can help ease it.

Brush your teeth after you eat

When you eat, food particles become trapped in your gums. Plaque and bacteria grow on the trapped food and cause bad breath. To help prevent bad breath after eating, brushing your teeth as soon as possible is essential. The longer you wait to brush your teeth, the more bacteria will grow in your mouth, causing more odor. You should also brush your tongue to remove any bacteria that has built up there. If you don’t have a toothbrush handy, rinse your mouth out with water to remove loose food particles and freshen your breath.

Floss at least once a day

You should floss at least once a day to remove bacteria and plaque from between teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach. This helps prevent cavities and gum disease. If your gums bleed when you floss, you may be bleeding due to gingivitis. However, if your gums are healthy and pink, but you still experience bad breath, you may have another medical issue that needs treatment. Talk to your dentist about your concerns.

Clean your tongue

Brushing and flossing remove bacteria from the teeth and gums; however, some odor-causing bacteria live deeper in the crevices of the tongue, which toothbrushes can’t reach. To effectively remove the bacteria from the tongue, use a soft-bristled brush or a tongue scraper to clean the surface of your tongue.

Keep hydrated

In addition to brushing and flossing daily, avoid eating foods high in sugar whenever possible. Bacteria feed on the sugars in the food you eat and produce sulfur compounds that cause bad breath. Also, drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated throughout the day. Saliva acts as a natural cleanser for your mouth by washing away leftover food particles. When your mouth is dry, it is harder for saliva to wash away food and bacteria. Drinking water helps keep your mouth moist, which makes it easier for you to rinse out leftover food and debris in your mouth.

Replace your toothbrush regularly

Regularly replace your toothbrush to avoid bacteria and germs harboring on your bristles. You should also buy a new toothbrush if you notice the bristles are becoming frayed as you brush your teeth. A worn-out toothbrush doesn’t clean as well as it once did and may not get rid of all the bacteria and plaque present on your teeth. Worn-out bristles can also irritate your gums. In addition, rinse your toothbrush off with hot water after each brushing for at least two minutes to kill any bacteria that remain on the bristles.

Clean dentures or dental appliances

If you wear removable dental appliances like dentures, it’s important to clean them daily to keep bad breath at bay. Soak your dentures overnight in a denture cleaning solution or plain water to keep them in your mouth while you sleep and prevent them from drying out. After soaking, rinse your dentures with water to remove the remaining traces of food particles or other debris before brushing with a soft-bristled brush and denture paste. Make sure to get into the nooks and crannies of your dentures where food particles can hide. This cleaning routine will help keep bacteria from growing on your dentures and causing your breath to stink.

Avoid dry mouth

Saliva works to neutralize acids produced by plaque and fights bacteria in your mouth. It also helps protect your mouth from infections caused by viruses, fungi, and yeast. A lack of saliva can cause bad breath because there is less protection against bacteria and acid development. Some medications cause dry mouth as a side effect. Talk to your dentist if you experience chronic dry mouth. He or she may be able to recommend products that can help replace lost saliva and protect your oral health.

Adjust your diet

The first thing you need to do to get rid of bad breath is adjusting your diet. By adjusting what you eat and how often you eat it, you can minimize your chances of developing bad breath. For example, if you eat a lot of garlic and onions, your breath will smell bad afterward. Likewise, eating foods high in sugar can lead to tooth decay and other oral health issues. Try to eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals while avoiding sugary snacks and drinks that can cause cavities. Also, try to eat your food slowly and chew thoroughly so that you can avoid having food particles in your mouth in between brushings.

At North Star Dental, we ensure to provide each of our patients with a positive and relaxing experience. If you're ready to experience the best dental care, please contact us at (505) 369-1881 or visit us at 9501 Paseo del Norte NE, Suite A, Albuquerque, NM 87122. We will be happy to guide you further.