Who knew that the speed at which you eat could affect your breath? That, and poor oral hygiene, create the perfect conditions for an instant social blunder: noxious breath. Fortunately, there are simple ways to prevent bad breath.
Watch How and What You Eat
Besides keeping your teeth and mouth clean, you might want to consider how quickly you eat. Not chewing your food and eating too fast can result in indigestion, which is one of the main causes of bad breath. Slow down at meal times to ensure proper digestion.
Another cause of bad breath is germs in your mouth. Our mouths are home to millions of germs that thrive on remnant food particles. Though it is impossible to eliminate all germs in the mouth, your best defense is to brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily, paying particular attention to food particles trapped between teeth and near the gum line. Be sure to rinse your mouth after eating, a mouthwash like Colgate Plax helps to reduce the germs count and germs build-up for up to 12 hours . Don’t forget to use a tongue cleaning device to remove the food debris and germs coating the top of your tongue.
What you eat also determines how foul or fresh your breath will be:
Food collected between teeth can rot and cause bad breath. Meat has a particularly bad reputation for getting stuck between teeth or under crowns, bridges and partial dentures, making it a magnet for germs.
Take care to rinse your mouth after consuming foods and drinks like garlic, curries, alcohol and coffee.
Snack on crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots, which will help remove food particles from your mouth.
Bye Bye Morning Breath
Your breath is probably most offensive in the mornings. This is because you produce less saliva when you are sleeping. Saliva has anti-germs properties and contains oxygen which inhibits the growth of germs, but when you sleep, your mouth becomes drier, making it an excellent breeding ground for foul-smelling germs. Banish morning breath by drinking sufficient water in the day to keep your mouth well-hydrated and by brushing your teeth and tongue, flossing, and using mouthwash in the morning.
Some final simple tips: Encourage saliva production by drinking plenty of water every day. Green tea is a good alternative to coffee and possesses a host of health benefits from fighting cancer to promoting healthy teeth and gums.
