Bad breath is like the metaphorical “toilet paper on the shoe.” Everyone else knows it’s there, but most of them don’t know how to tell you, so it remains until you notice it yourself. Unfortunately, in the case of bad breath, that can be almost impossible if you aren’t checking for it. Whether you’re insecure about your breath or just want to safeguard yourself just in case, here are some time-honored tips for making sure your breath is fresh as a daisy.
You Are What You Eat
We all know the foods that make breath worse: garlic, onions, anything spicy. But did you know there are actually foods that make your breath smell better? It’s true. Things like basil, parsley (now you know why they garnish your dinner plate with it!), probiotic-rich yogurt, melons, ginger and drinking plenty of water can keep your mouth odor-free.
Don’t Scrape by With Bad Breath
One way to freshen breath that most people don’t incorporate into their oral care routine is tongue scraping. Tongue scraping removes much of the plaque and biofilm buildup on the tongue that may be responsible for causing bad breath. It also helps exfoliate dead cells off the tongue that could be trapping in odor.
Brush, Floss, Repeat
Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes a day and flossing at least once a day is the easiest way to ensure clean, fresh breath, but that’s a minimum. There’s no rule that says you can’t floss more or brush more. If you feel like your breath could use an afternoon pick-me-up, don’t be shy about opening the medicine cabinet and cleaning those pearly whites.
Rinse It Out
Rinsing after brushing is the best way to remove the particles you just brushed off your teeth, but using a mouth rinse may help go a step further by freshening your breath. When done prior to brushing, mouthwash can loosen particles and make brushing easier. When used after, it can rinse away removed particles and leave the mouth with a fresh tingling feeling. The good news is, no matter when you choose to use mouthwash, it will still help clean out your mouth and leave your breath better than before, so do it whenever the mood suits you best.
For more bad-breath help, or to schedule an appointment, please give Dr. Allison Lesko’s office a call at 910-221-5115.
Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:
970-221-5115
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526