Winning the War against Bad Breath

"To expect to be kissed having bad breath is the secret of a fool." - Dejan Stojanovic.

Isn’t it absolutely correct? No matter how breathtakingly handsome you are, if you suffer from bad breath, the only breath you are going to take away is the last one. Don’t hold your breath for a second date.

Halitosis or chronic bad breath isn’t uncommon; almost 20 to 30 percent of the world's population suffer from it; and the rest 70 to 80 suffer due to it. So, if you are one of those 20 something percent, it’s high time you do something about it.

Bad breath can be caused due to many reasons – unhealthy diet, sleeping pattern, illness, addiction to vices like smoking and drinking including your daily cup(s) coffee. No matter the causes, with the right measures, bad breath can be kept in check. Here are 3 ways to make sure you are bad breath free:

Replace mint candy with sugar-free chewing gum:

Sure mint or menthol candies are the quickest way to get minty fresh breath, but one simply tends to forget that they are made from sugar. Once the freshness of mint dissipates, the sour aftertaste of sugar settles in opening a gateway for bacteria to, in turn, ruin your teeth. Solution: Sugar-free chewing gums. What it does best is – not only act as a mouth freshener, but also maintain the PH level by increasing saliva plus all the chewing also strengthens your jaw muscles. Win win!

Brush-Floss-Repeat:

Bad breath is directly associated with bad dental habits. While you tend to give priority to brushing teeth, you completely forget flossing. Admittedly using string flossers is a difficult task, but now there are some good water flossers available in market like Oracura Smart Water flosser. They are portable and without the pain that is caused by string flosser. What’s more, you can use mouthwash directly with the water flosser. Bye bye bad breath.

Stay Hydrated:

Drinking at least 3 litres of water is recommended for good health. This includes good dental health. The more water you intake, the less chance of bacteria to settle in your mouth. No bacteria equals no bad breath.

Besides these you can also take other measures like getting enough sleep, healthy diet with ample raw veggies and fruits with a lot of fibre. Our body is an intricate and interdependent web of mechanisms, all working in sync to make us function. One small step towards taking care of your body goes a long way towards a happy healthy lifestyle.

Of course there are many other ways you can try to reduce bad breath. For a start, by cutting down the number of food breaks. Your employer, particularly, would be much happier. However, if that’s not an option try drinking a glass of water right after you eat to rinse off the residual food particles. For a while, I had also tried mouthwash like Listerine, which worked. Even eating raw fruits and vegetables that contain natural fibres keep teeth clean by breaking down bacteria.

Regular dentist appointments, oil pulling, baking soda treatment, etc are other ways to retain your healthy smile. There are many things one can do to maintain good dental health but the one thing it all drills down to is ‘habit’. Making just a simple change in your daily routine, inculcating a new habit makes all the difference.