Preventing Bad Breath

 

Treating bad breath is one thing – but preventing bad breath is another thing entirely. Instead of reacting, and trying to end a problem, why not prevent it from occurring in the first place?

Most of us have experienced bad breath at some point in our lives. The following tips will have you preventing bad breath before it has a chance to become a problem.

Keep it clean.
In most cases, bad breath is the result of bacteria in the mouth running amok. The bacteria can be caused by many different things – food trapped between teeth, bacteria that build up on the tongue and even postnasal drip. Prevent bad breath before it starts by brushing after every meal (or at least twice a day) flossing daily and using a tongue scraper to keep your tongue fresh and clean.

Keep it moist.
Dry mouth is a common cause of bad breath. Ever wonder why your morning breath can be toxic enough to strip wallpaper? It’s because your mouth has dried out while you sleep. Rinsing with water or tea helps moisten your mouth, whisk away unpleasant odors and prevent bad breath.

Drink with care.
There are certain things that are a definite no-no when it comes to preventing bad breath. Among the worst offenders? Alcohol and caffeine.

Alcohol is a drying agent – chemically, technically, it’s called a desiccant. In fact, it’s a common drying agent for food production. Anything that dries the mouth out is a contributor to bad breath….so best to lay off the alcohol, whether it’s in a glass of wine or a bottle of mouthwash.

Coffee often results in bad breath because is has high levels of acids. That same element that creates the churning in your stomach is also a key contributor to bad breath. These acids make the bacteria in your mouth reproduce more rapidly, and at the same time leave a bitter taste in your mouth. It’s a double whammy – and as a result, laying off coffee is an important step in preventing bad breath.

Don’t feed the problem.
There are several foods that are commonly associated with bad breath – onions and garlic among them. But did you know one of the main food-related causes of bad breath are milk products? Many of us are lactose (milk) intolerant – even if we’ve never been diagnosed. Studies have shown almost 70 per cent of Americans are lactose intolerant. That means they can’t digest milk products properly or promptly – and that gives bacteria time to build up in your system. The end result? Stinky breath. To prevent bad breath, give milk products a pass.

Diet with care.
Ever gone on a crash diet, only to find that your breath becomes rather sketchy? Serious dieting or fasting can result in bad breath that’s slightly sweet-smelling. Low carb diets are particularly notorious for causing bad breath. Starved for carbs, your body starts burning fat for fuel – a situation that causes chemicals called ketones to accumulate in the body. When they are released through the breath or urine, they have an unpleasant odor. Interested in preventing bad breath? Use caution with a low carb diet – instead, choose healthy, nutritious meals and eat on a regular basis.

For more tips on bad breath cures, click here.