How to Get Rid of Bad Breath

Regular Brushing and Flossing

Did you know your mouth contains more bacteria than there are cells in your body? What's even interesting is that scientist have only managed to study fewer than half out of 700 most common bacteria, which is the reason why it is never easy to find a surefire way to combat the odors. You cannot relax, and the first line of defense is to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Remember, what you eat is what those bacteria in your mouth will eat. It is therefore important to ensure that no food particles are there after you've eaten your meals. You can ensure it by brushing at least twice a day, especially after your meals. Be sure to brush thoroughly to get rid of food particles trapped in your gum line or else you will keep wondering how to get rid of bad breath.

Use a Tongue Scraper

The coating you notice on your tongue can be a great breeding ground for odor-producing bacteria. You can always use your toothbrush to clean your tongue, but sometimes, it will be a bit difficult to reach the back of the tongue. If that's the case, go buy yourself a tongue scraper. These scarpers will help remove food debris, bacteria, and dead cells effectively.

Try an Antibacterial Mouthwash

Even though using mouthwash is a temporary solution, it will still help kill bacteria growing all the time in your mouth. You need to be regular though and use mouthwash every night before you go to bed. It is worth mentioning that you will be better off avoiding alcohol-based mouthwash because it can irritate your mouth and lead to dryness. Try an alcohol-free mouthwash instead, especially the one that contains hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine.

Try Sugar-Free Gum

You may considering using sugar-free chewing gums to stimulate saliva production, which in turn will keep your mouth moist and prevent bad odor. You may opt for gums with cinnamon flavoring or one sweetened with xylitol because they have better bacteria-fighting abilities.

Eat the Right Food

It is important to have some information about the culinary culprits to manage your bad breath better. Some food items are always going to give you bad breath, such as onions or garlic. You may also end up having bad breath when you eat meat. Sometimes, small meat particles will stick around and won't leave your mouth even when you try to wash it down with a gulp of water. These meat particles will accumulate at your gum line or may even go under your crowns, giving bacteria a good food source to thrive.

Similarly, you may be on a low-carbohydrate and high-protein diet to get a slimmer weight, but this will have a negative impact on your breath. You may develop a condition called ketosis if you're eating less than 100g of carbohydrates a day. The condition will make your body to burn more fats instead of burning sugar, which in turn will cause bad breath.

Drink Tea

You may consider including tea, normal or herbal, to your daily routine to be able to combat bad breath better. Both black and green teas have polyphenols, the antioxidant responsible for limiting the growth of odor producing bacteria. You can also drink sage tea or another herbal tea – you can prepare sage tea simply by steeping a teaspoon of dried sage in a cup full of hot water for five minutes.

Use Baking Soda

Also called bicarbonate of soda, baking soda can work amazingly well to prevent bad breath by maintaining a balance in the levels of acid in your mouth. Simply add one-half teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water. Mix it well and use it to rinse your mouth at least once a day to fix bad breath.

Try Apple Cider Vinegar

It is a great remedy for bad breath because it helps achieve an ideal pH balance in your mouth. Take a glass of water and add a tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to it. Stir it well and drink it before you eat your meals. This will improve your digestion and prevent bad breath as well.

Quit Smoking

More than 46.6 million Americans were chain smokers as of 2011, and you may still be among the same category. If that's the case, you may not be able to get rid of your bad breath completely. Cigarettes release a variety of chemicals into your mouth and form a coating on your tongue that becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. That's why people who smoke are more likely to deal with oral infections. Smoking will also promote plaque buildup on your teeth and cause dryness in your mouth, which again provides an ideal breeding place to odor-causing bacteria.

See Your Doctor

If you've already tried different home remedies and are still wondering how to get rid of bad breath, it's time to go see your dentist. Sometimes, your bad breath could be due to other underlying conditions such as tonsil stones, which are lumps of calcified food, bacteria, and mucus. If you have diabetes, you may experience bad breath if you've developed a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. In this condition, your body will stop burning sugar and burn fat instead.

Sometimes, your bad breath is the result of trimethylaminuria, a condition in which your body fails to break down trimethylamine. Your body will release this chemical into your saliva and even sweat, so you may experience bad breath as well as bad body odor in this case. Talk to your doctor to find a better treatment.

Watch the video below to find more methods on how to get rid of bad breath: