It's that time of year again: Holiday parties chock-full of delicious foods and festive cocktails. However, many of these delights, such as garlic mashed potatoes and champagne, can also give you terrible breath! Here is your bad breath remedy plan of attack to keep those pesky fumes down to a minimum.
Brush Your Teeth
Before you head out to the party, make sure to brush your teeth to get rid of all the bacteria that you have accumulated throughout the day. Pay special attention to your tongue; a lot of foul-smelling bacteria like to hang out there. For office parties, keep a toothbrush and toothpaste in your desk at work so you can slip off to the bathroom before your office turns into a party zone.
Drink Water
When you have a dry mouth, it can make bad breath worse. Since alcoholic drinks are drying agents, they can exacerbate a bad breath problem. Sip on a glass of water in between each drink to stay hydrated. Bonus: This can also help to prevent hangovers caused by dehydration.
Munch on Veggies
Vegetables can also help to keep your breath fresh. Carrots and celery are full of water and vitamin C that flush out your mouth and kill odour-causing bacteria. Head to the crudité table at the party to snack on the veggies between each breath-spoiling course.
Bite on a Lemon
Citrus fruit causes your mouth to produce more saliva, which acts as a cleaning agent to rinse away plaque and bacteria. If you find yourself in a smelly situation, ask for a lemon with your water. Bite into the lemon, and swish the juice around your mouth for a few seconds.
Chew Sugarless Gum
If you still can't shake that feeling that your breath smells terrible, or if you simply overdid it on the garlic, chew on a stick of sugarless gum. Chewing sugarless gum will not replace brushing your teeth, but it can cover up odours and increase saliva production to rinse away foul-smelling bacteria.
