Oh, the woes of bad breath. If you are a sufferer, you know what we mean! The constant breath checks, the terror of opening your mouth too wide when you speak, the fear of speaking at all: It is a real struggle!

What is this bad breath phenomenon called? Halitosis. Unfortunately, 80 million people have halitosis, but many fail to find the right treatment.

Below we have some tips to help you avoid the embarrassment of bad breath, so you can live a life full of fearless smiles!

(Is your child the sufferer? We have some trick that encourage kids to brush their teeth!)

Drink More Water

It’s true, water is one of the most healthy drinks in the world. But how does it help with bad breath? Well, bad breath is most commonly caused by food particles and debris remaining in the mouth for too long. Drinking water flushes these things out!

By drinking 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day, you can also help avoid dry mouth, another major contributor to halitosis. If you drink sufficient amounts of water and still suffer from dry mouth, you may want to speak with your dentist in Birmingham to get another solution.

Brush Often

Listen, we can’t say this enough: the most important thing for dental health is a good consistent brushing! For halitosis sufferers, brush three times a day! It’s really not that hard, and your life will increase exponentially.

For extreme cases, try brushing with baking soda every now and then. This technique reduces the acidity in the mouth and creates an environment that makes it harder for bacteria to grow.

Be sure to brush every location of your mouth, including the tongue. Bad breath sufferers find that a tongue scraper works wonders. Tongue scrapers apply an even amount of pressure of the tongue to remove dead cells, bacteria, and debris.

Flossing Helps

Many times the source of your bad breath is coming from your gums. This is because, without flossing, food and debris can easily remain stuck up in your gums.

When you eat, food gets stuck inside your gums. Then, bacteria eats the food and it ferments, ultimately turning into acid. The result is bad breath and can sometimes lead toproblems that are much worse. Many people floss much less frequently than they brush, but sufferers of bad breath should be flossing at least once a day.

Eat Right

There are some foods that cause bad breath for sure, whether you brush or not. The best way avoid their odor is to avoid eating them. The worst foods for breath are onion, garlic, tuna, and horseradish.

Bad Habits

Stop smoking today! If you are a smoker, your chances of bad breath are extremely high. Don’t agree? Well, that’s most likely because you can’t smell or taste your breath accurately. You see, smoking dulls your sense of smell and taste. Therefore, you could have bad breath, and have no idea.

Smoking dries out your mouth, making it the perfect breeding place for bacteria. Don’t go around having bad breath and not noticing. Drop the cigarettes today.

Visit Your Dentist in Birmingham

The best way to ensure you have fresh breath throughout the year is to visit your dentist in Birmingham. If you are following a great dental hygiene plan and still suffering, your dentist can work with you to find the right solution.

Do you suffer from halitosis? We can help! Contact us today.