Bad breath or Halitosis can be very embarrassing. It can affect social interactions and may cause people to start avoiding the individual with it. There is however hope if you have bad breath as there are some simple, yet effective steps that can be taken to get back your breath.
1. Brush and floss regularly
I know it may not be a common thing among Nigerians to brush twice a day and we hardly even floss. If you are however having a challenge with bad breath, then you should consider ensuring that you brush your teeth twice in a day. You should also consider flossing at least once every day.
2. Avoid Smoking
Among the myriads of problems a smoker is susceptible to is bad breath. This is because smoking destroys gum tissue and also can stain your teeth. If you are addicted to smoking, you must start taking efforts to stop it because this not only gives you a better breath, it guarantees a better life.
3. Use mouthwashes
Mouthwashes can help freshen your breath and also reduce bacteria that can cause bad breath. In case mouthwashes are not available, you can rinse your mouth with water especially after meals.
4. Gently Brush your tongue regularly
Your tongue can harbour foul smelling bacteria through the coat that usually form on the tongue. This is why it is therefore important that you always brush your tongue and scrape off this coating
5. Drink lots of water
When your mouth is dry and you lack sufficient saliva, your mouth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, giving you bad breath. This is because your saliva contains some natural defensive properties that inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Drinking lots of water will ensure that your mouth does not go dry.
6. Avoid foods that cause bad breath
If you take lots of onions and garlic, then this can partly be the reason for your bad breath. When you take this kind of items, brushing your teeth may hardly solve the problem because they are easily absorbed into your blood and are taken up by your lungs making you breathe them out and I am sure you wouldn’t want to try brushing your lungs.
7. Avoid Candies and Chocolates
Candies, or let me say sweets and chocolates contain lots of sugar and promotes the growth of bacteria that are responsible for bad breaths. If you must keep your mouth busy then you can take sugarless chewing gums instead.
8. Treat your gum disease
Gum diseases allow for the growth of organisms that promote bad breath. If you have gum disease, then you should see your dentist so you can receive prompt treatment.
In case you thoroughly follow all these steps but the bad breath continues, it is important that you see a doctor because it may be a pointer to an underlying medical condition.
Photo credit: www.afrisphere.com
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