It is needless to say that bad breathe or mouth odour is very embarrassing.

Imagine you are out on a date and the moment you open your mouth to speak; your date cringes backward instantly. It is worse when you are on the receiving end and do not know how to tell the person that his or breathe stinks.

It is normal to hear people with mouth odour say that they brush regularly and do not know why they still have bad breath or what to do about it.

So the question is: can you put a stop to it?

Definitely…you can!

Knowing the causes of mouth odour is the first step to putting an end to it.

Smoking, dental diseases, growth of bacteria and microbes in your mouth can give your mouth a bad smell. Also, eating foods that contain sulphur (like onion and garlic – and even meat) naturally make your mouth smell.

Mouth odour is easier to tackle, as a refreshing breath is easy to achieve. Below are some tips that can help:

1. Drink enough water

I bet you are asking yourself what water has to do with bad breath. The answer is;
a lot!

Saliva in your mouth does more than keeping your mouth wet. It has enzymes that serve as protectors against bacteria in your mouth. So, a dry mouth is prone to smell because there are not enough enzymes to fight against odour-causing bacteria.

How do you keep your mouth wet? By drinking water. It’s as simple as that.

When you keep yourself hydrated, your mouth gets all the moisture it needs. This makes it easy for the salivary glands to function.

There are a number of factors that can cause dry mouth.

Dry mouth could be the symptoms of certain illnesses and diseases. It can also be a side effect from drugs. Exercises could also cause your mouth to get dry — this is because when you exercise, you breathe in and out very fast and this reduces the moisture in your mouth. So, take water before exercising.

If you breathe through your mouth when you sleep at night, your mouth tends to be dry when you wake up. So it is advisable that you drink water, first thing when you wake up.

If your dry mouth is however caused by a medical condition, please visit your doctor and drink a glass of water as much as you can.

2. Make sure you clean your tongue daily

This is very important. Most people focus on the teeth when they brush, to ensure that their teeth stay white for whenever they laugh or smile.

Your tongue serves as a growing area for bacteria that causes that foul smell. So you need to pay attention to your tongue while brushing. Make sure that you brush your tongue in a upward and downward motion.

If cleaning your tongue with a toothbrush doesn’t do the trick, get a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper removes any bacteria residue on your tongue. In fact, it scrapes up the buildup of biofilm on the tongue. This is something a toothbrush cannot effectively do.

If you do not have a tongue cleaner, try using a spoon. Drag the edge of the spoon across your tongue to remove the biofilm caused by bacteria. Then you can afterwards brush your tongue with a toothbrush. This would leave your mouth refreshed and smell-free.

3. Do not forget to brush your teeth!

Just because your tongue is where the bacteria builds up doesn’t mean you neglect your teeth. Your tongue is just one organ in your mouth. Make sure you properly brush your teeth and floss regularly.

Nothing kills bad breathe better than good dental care!

Whenever you have tooth decay, a disease that affects the gum or even cavities, it is normal for your mouth to produce bad smell. One of the ways of preventing as well as treating these diseases is to brush your teeth.

It is advisable you brush your teeth after every meal but if you cannot do that, ensure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Be sure to change your tooth brush after every three months.

Do not stop at brushing; flossing is also very important. It complements brushing.

Flossing removes even the tiniest food residue from your teeth. It also removes plaque that forms on your teeth. This is something your toothbrush cannot do. You should at least floss once a day.

4. Try a mouthwash rinse

In addition to brushing and flossing, using a mouthwash is an added advantage. It makes your breath smell fresh and minty. It also gives extra protection against bacteria in your mouth.

Mouthwash doesn’t just mask the bad smell but actually works towards stopping it.

Rinsing your mouth after you eat also helps a great deal. It removes food particles from within your teeth and prevents the formation of plaque.

5. Eat a healthy diet

It is no news that whatever you eat plays a great role in your total health care.

There are some foods that are not healthy for your teeth — even if they might be healthy for the body. Eating foods that contain garlic, onions, ginger or related spices can cause foul smell.

It is worse because brushing your teeth will not stop this smell. This is because it gets ingested into your system and through the digestive process, it finds its ways into your lungs and you breathe it out.

Also, stay away from foods with high acidic content. Acid stimulates bacteria growth which in turn causes bad breath.

You should also stay away from sugary foods too. Sugar in its fermented form causes foul smell. Sugar causes cavities, plaque and most dental illness.

Most people opt for mints to mask bad smell. This is not healthy because most brands contain sugar in them. If you need to use mints, make sure that they are sugar-free.

Conclusion

If you can follow these tips, I assure you that the next time you go out with friends; you will be able to boldly talk, laugh and have fun without being scared that people would move away or laugh at you.

Remember, the basic rule is to ensure that you maintain proper dental hygiene and prevent the growth of bacteria as much as you can.