There have been a lot of ways to prevent bad breath including doing brush teeth twice a day, brushing or scraping tongue, using a mouth rinse, quit smoking and avoiding the use of tobacco products.

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Bad breath ( also known as halitosis), it usually happens to everyone at times. There are several factors that are responsible for Halitosis including dry mouth, foods high in protein, acid or sugar, and smoking. Tooth decay or illness can also lead to bad breath.

Bad breath can be very embarrassing or awkward, but it is a normal condition and have numerous ways to prevent it.

8 Ways to Prevent Bad Breath

1. Developing Good Oral Health

Brushing teeth properly:

Brushing teeth properly is one of the best things a person can do in fighting against bad breath. Brushing twice a day, for at least two minutes by covering all the areas in the mouth, especially the part where teeth meet the gums.

For brushing a person should use a soft-bristled brush and replace it every two to three months.

Brushing either right before a person eats or one hour afterward.

While brushing a person should brush the tongue as well, because the tongue gets a lot of build-up of bacteria that further can cause bad breath.

Using baking soda:

Brushing teeth with baking soda once a week helps in neutralizing the bacteria that cause bad breath. The baking soda can be used with the help of a regular toothbrush, directly sprinkle a pinch of baking soda on the bristles, then brush as usual.

Baking soda can also be used as a mouthwash.

The soda also helps in neutralizing the acids that build upon the backs of the teeth, and beneath the tongue.

Use sugar-free gum or mints: Sugar-free gum or mints help in more production of saliva in the mouth and flush out the bad bacteria from the mouth. These gums or mints can also help in covering up bad breath for a short period of time.

2. Making Diet and Lifestyle Changes

Drinking lots of water:

Dry mouth is one of the problems that can cause bad breath. Water is odor-free and helps to flush out the food that bacteria consume in the mouth. It also helps in promoting the saliva which cleanses the mouth and eliminates the stink-causing substances in food.

Avoid the use of coffee, sodas, or alcohol to cleanse the mouth.

Dehydration is usually a factor for halitosis. Drinking more water to stay hydrated throughout waking hours, will help in the prevention of bad breath.

Eat foods that are high in fiber:

Foods that are fresh and crunchy help to clean the teeth, they also help in preventing halitosis. They improve the digestion process and helps the body in toxins releasing process.

Avoid consuming sugary drinks and foods.

Avoid acidic drinks:

Because these are bad both for the breath and for the health of the teeth, as acidic drinks can hurt the enamel on the teeth.

Avoid drinking coffee and alcohol because these drinks provide an environment in the mouth for bacteria growth that leads to bad breath. They also dry out the mouth, which causes the bacteria to linger.

3. Use a Mouth Rinse

One should know that dental problem is the cause of chronic bad breath, using a mouth rinse will only mask the odor and not cure it. People can also rinse the mouth with black or green tea because rinsing the mouth with black or green tea helps in suppressing the growth of bacteria that cause mouth odor.

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4. Visiting Dentist

Visiting dentists for regular oral health checkup is the best way to maintaining good oral hygiene. If a person has chronic bad breath, he/she should visit dentist first, to rule out any dental problems.

5. Quit Smoking and Avoid Tobacco Products

A person should quit smoking because smoking contributes to bad breath as well as the tobacco tends to dry out the mouth and can leave an unpleasant smell that lingers even after brushing the teeth.

6. Wet Your Whistle

Be sure to drink a sufficient amount of water daily to avoid dry mouth. Drinking water will also help in keeping odor under control because it washes away food particles and bacteria which are the primary cause of bad breath. If a person has a chronic dry mouth or takes medications that cause dry mouth.

7. Eat Foods With High in Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps in inhibiting the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Vitamin D can be taken in the form of foods and beverages.

A person should try eating sugar-free yogurt once a day. The yogurt with probiotic bacteria helps in preventing bad breath by reducing the levels of bad breath-causing sulfide compounds.

A person can take vitamin-D rich foods through fatty fish like as salmon, tuna or mackerel. Some mushrooms also contain Vitamin D.

Vitamin D can also be taken through supplements.

8. Eating Carrot, Celery or an Apple

Snacks of fresh fruits and vegetables in between meals helps in washing away the bacteria from the teeth, tongue, and gums that can cause bad breath. These snacks can also help relieve bad breath caused by hunger or fasting. An empty stomach from skipping meals is also a cause of bad breath as acids in the stomach build up.

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