How to get rid of bad breath

While halitosis, or bad breath, is far from ideal, we've all been there. It's not a cause for embarrassment, but rather a signal that you need to make a couple of tweaks to your oral care routine. Breath mints are not always a viable solution and you don’t want to be ingesting unnecessary sugars to deal with bad breath. Our formulation experts suggest that bad breath can stem from eating certain types of foods with certain chemistry or neglecting to reach all the spots in your mouth where bacteria can grow.

We've got some tips to help you get rid of bad breath, ahead.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

It's no surprise that poor oral hygiene is a precursor for bad breath. "When you don’t brush, rinse, and floss consistently and correctly, you end up with a buildup of bacteria and plaque buildup. The plaque layer that builds up on our teeth will cause bad breath since it is made up of odorous bacteria." How's that for motivation to brush, floss, and rinse?

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Regardless of what kind of mouthwash or toothpaste you use, the key to fresh breath is sticking with your oral hygiene routine. "The best oral care practice is one that is consistent," "Brush twice a day for 2 minutes (most people only brush for 30 to 40 seconds)." You should "ideally spend 30 seconds per quarter of your mouth, hence two minutes in total, twice a day." When brushing, both manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes work equally well if you follow the right technique with both

Related Blog: Mouthwash Bits – The natural way to fresh breath

Brush, Floss, Rinse (in That Order) to Remove Plaque

The order in which you perform your oral hygiene routine can also play a role in the freshness factor when it comes to your breath. "We recommend brushing first to loosen and remove food particles and plaque from the surface of the teeth and gums,". "Then follow that with floss to remove the intradental plaque and any other food particles and debris that’s stuck between the teeth. Lastly, rinse to remove all the germs and anything else brushing and flossing might have missed." It’s perfectly OK to floss before and after brushing for extra measure.

Following these steps helps eradicate plaque, which is key to a healthy mouth.

"Plaque leads to bad breath in a few different ways,".

"First, plaque is made up of bacteria, which smells.

"Additionally, if you don't address plaque, it can lead to gingivitis.

"Gingivitis, is where the gums are inflamed and swollen. It can cause periodontitis, which is when the inflammation reaches the bone of our teeth, leading to a foul smell."

Any good toothbrush, effective toothpaste (try our Multi-Protection Toothpaste Tablets in 3 amazing flavors and Multi-protection Mouthwash Tablets (again in 3 natural flavors) when consistently used, should help to manage the problem of bad breath. Our expert dentists advise flossing after every meal.

Use a Tongue Scraper

To keep your mouth extra fresh, consider cleaning your tongue. "Scrape the tongue with a scraper daily to remove bacteria that lives on the surface of the tongue,". A copper model is a good choice, as copper has natural antibacterial properties. Our company is launching a tongue scraper soon. So, stay tuned.

Avoid Foods With Sulfur

Aside from poor or inconsistent oral hygiene, diet might be a major culprit of halitosis. Eating foods with high "volatile sulfur compounds" can lead to bad breath. These foods include garlic and onions. "Plaque can also trap those volatile sulfur compounds, making it harder for your mouth to remove them."

Nix Greasy, Fried, and Sugary Foods

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), halitosis is "caused by improper digestion in the stomach. Digging deeper, it seems that "heat or cold trapped in the digestive tract, which may be causing food to almost rot or spoil, leading to malabsorption." To this end, it's best to nix greasy or fried foods that your body is having a hard time breaking down.

Additionally, try to to avoid foods high in sugar, as this can "promote bacterial growth in the mouth."

Eat According to Your Body Temperature

Having a good idea of what your basal body temperature is might help you determine your ideal diet and keep your digestive tract running smoothly. The result isn't just fresher breath but overall improved health and wellness. It is often noted that "if your body runs hot, abdomen is hot to the touch, and you have a reddish tongue, it’s best to avoid, fried, greasy and spicy foods."

Respectively, "if you run cold, have a cold abdomen to the touch, and a puffy, pale watery tongue, then avoid raw fruits and vegetables. Avoid cold smoothies and shakes." Instead, she recommends cooking your veggies and "incorporating warming foods into your daily diet." 

Clear Your Sinuses

Keeping sinuses clear is another way to address any odorous breath. "There is evidence to suggest a post nasal drip can interact with bacteria in the mouth that can lead to a bad smell,"

Hydrate

You'll also want to stay well hydrated for a couple of reasons. Dry mouth can lead to bad breath, explain our experts. "Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day,". For those who suffer from chronic dry mouth, artificial saliva may need to be prescribed."

If you use mouthwash, be sure to use a variety that doesn't contain alcohol, as alcohol can lead to dry mouth, exacerbating halitosis. That’s why we created Mouthwash Tablets that are free of alcohol, artificial sugars, dyes, artificial colors and artificial flavors.

Proper hydration also keeps saliva flowing, which is important for overall oral hygiene. "Saliva flow is also very important in prevention of gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. "Saliva contains minerals that not only keep the gums hydrated but provide a buffering effect from acids produced by bacteria and foods. Saliva also contains minerals that can repair our teeth at night time." 

See Your Dentist

If you can't clear up halitosis with consistent and proper oral hygiene and by tweaking your diet, that might mean something else is going on, warranting a trip to the dentist. If halitosis doesn't resolve itself may signal "underlying dental issues like periodontal disease or tooth decay."

A more serious problem like gingivitis, tonsillitis, tonsil stones, or dental abscesses might also be the cause. No need to freak out—just book an appointment with your dentist. You should also see your hygienist at least 2 times a year, "in order to reduce the bacteria levels in the mouth."

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