Buzz
Nothing kills your confidence more than bad breath, and you only realize this when you accidentally smell your breath during an important meeting. You hesitate to get close to your partner, fearing they'll think you're unclean. You don't want your relationship to wither because of your breath. If you're in this situation, it's good to know that there are some ways to reduce the unpleasant odor of your breath right away. If bad breath is a regular issue for you, consider when was the last time you visited the dentist. Common causes of bad breath include gum disease, periodontal disease, strong-smelling foods, acid reflux, or improper brushing leaving food residue behind.
Steps
Fix bad breath with oral hygiene products
Use a portable toothbrush. Many people with bad breath or those who are conscious about their breath often carry a toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste. If you don’t have toothpaste, simply brushing with water can also help reduce the bacterial smell that builds up after eating. Portable toothbrushes can be found in most convenience stores or pharmacies.
- It’s even better to carry a small, single-use toothbrush, as it will be cleaner and more hygienic since each one is used only once.
Flossing. This is a great addition to or replacement for brushing your teeth, and you can easily find a convenient spot to floss, such as a restroom. Many types of dental floss come with a minty aftertaste, leaving your breath fresh after use.
- Dentists recommend flossing after every meal to ensure no food particles are stuck between your teeth. If this seems too tedious, at least floss once a day to fight bad breath—preferably before bed.
- Flossing after meals is one of the best ways to combat bad breath.
- Consider carrying flossing tools like dental floss for convenient use anytime.
Use Listerine or another antibacterial mouthwash. Listerine comes in small bottles, making it easy to slip into your bag or purse. Rinse for 20 seconds and then spit it out. Mouthwash combats the bacteria that cause bad breath while also freshening your breath. Be sure to choose a product that advertises its ability to fight gum disease and/or plaque.
- Listerine breath strips dissolve instantly on your tongue and are designed to quickly eliminate bad breath, though they can be quite potent.
Chew gum for fresh breath
Chew sugar-free gum. Sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production, preventing dry mouth. Dry mouth often leads to bad breath because bacteria aren't washed away. Gum also helps remove leftover food particles from between your teeth. However, chewing sugar-free gum should not replace proper oral hygiene, so you should still brush and floss your teeth.
- You can opt for natural gum made with spicy mint and other herbs to mask bad breath and eliminate leftover food in your mouth.
Chew herbs like mint, parsley, basil, or cilantro. These won't clean your mouth but can help combat unpleasant odors due to their strong scents. This method provides only short-term relief and isn't a long-term solution. Be mindful of any herb remnants left in your mouth, as you don't want to trade bad breath for parsley bits stuck between your teeth.
Chew seeds. Some types of seeds have a strong aroma and a rough texture that can help remove food particles stuck between your teeth, on your tongue, and along your gums. Fennel seeds, in particular, are excellent at masking bad breath. Anise seeds, with their licorice-like flavor, are naturally antiseptic.
Fight bad breath with water
Drink lemon water. Not only is lemon water a healthy and flavorful alternative to soda, but its acidic properties are also highly effective in combating bad breath. One of the main causes of bad breath is dry mouth (which often occurs in the morning), so drinking water helps hydrate your mouth and eliminate most odors.
- Squeeze a lemon into your water to let its citrus scent overpower any bad breath. The acidity of the lemon helps prevent bacteria buildup in your mouth.
Use a Waterpik water flosser. This device is commonly used as an alternative to dental floss. It can spray a high-pressure stream of water to wash away food debris stuck between your teeth and can also be used to clean your tongue. The usage is simple: go to the bathroom, fill the reservoir with water, and start spraying. If you have mouthwash, you can add it to the water reservoir to enhance its ability to combat bad breath.
Rinse your mouth with water. Afterward, use a tissue to wipe each tooth, or wipe your teeth with the inside of your shirt sleeve. This method makes your teeth shine, as though you just brushed them, then rinse again. If you have a textured brown tissue, you can use it to wipe your tongue from the inside out to remove plaque buildup on the tongue.
Check for bad breath
Ask someone for help. Most people try to sniff their own breath by cupping their hand over their mouth, but this often only gives the smell of their hand. Since the nasal cavity is connected to the mouth, this method doesn't accurately reveal the scent of your breath. The best way to detect bad breath is by asking someone close to you for assistance. Have someone you trust sniff your breath so you don't feel too embarrassed. Simply exhale quickly, without blowing forcefully.
Lick the inside of your wrist. Find a quiet corner and lick the inside of your wrist. Since the wrist rarely comes into contact with objects, it's an ideal place to detect your breath's scent. Wait until your saliva dries, then sniff your wrist. This is one of the most accurate ways to identify your breath.
Check with a spoon scraper. Take a spoon and place the back of it against the back of your tongue, then slowly drag it forward across your mouth. Inspect the material collected on the spoon. If it's clear, it means you don't have bad breath, but usually, you'll notice a cloudy or even yellowish substance. This substance is the bacteria build-up on your tongue, which causes bad breath.
- It's crucial to brush the back of your tongue while brushing your teeth, as this is where bacteria that cause bad breath reside.
- You can also use a gauze pad from the pharmacy for this test, but in most cases, a spoon is more accessible.
Use a Halimeter bad breath meter. This device works by detecting the presence of sulfur compounds in your breath. Volatile sulfur compounds are often found in the mouth, and when they reach high levels, they cause bad breath. These sulfur compounds smell like rotten eggs, which is certainly not something you'd want to have during an important meeting. Dentists typically perform this test, but if you're eager to own a Halimeter, you can purchase one, although they are quite expensive.
Yêu cầu nha sĩ phân tích sắc ký khí. Mục đích của phép phân tích này là xác định hàm lượng lưu huỳnh và các hợp chất hóa học khác trong miệng. Đây là cách kiểm tra hiệu quả nhất và giá trị đo được là tiêu chuẩn vàng để đánh giá.
Biết khi nào cần đi khám nha khoa
Đi khám nha khoa nếu bạn có hơi thở hôi mãn tính. Nếu bạn đã áp dụng nhiều bước đề cập ở đây nhưng vẫn bị hôi miệng thì đã đến lúc phải gặp nha sĩ. Hôi miệng là một trong những dấu hiệu rõ ràng nhất của bệnh về lợi và mảng bám tích tụ. Chuyên viên vệ sinh răng miệng và nha sĩ có thể chỉ ra những bước còn thiếu sót trong thói quen vệ sinh răng miệng của bạn, từ đó giúp bạn chống lại các vấn đề đang mắc phải.
Gặp nha sĩ nếu bạn phát hiện các chấm trắng trên amidan. Trong quá trình quan sát miệng để tìm ra nguyên nhân khiến hơi thở hôi, có thể bạn để ý thấy những vết lốm đốm màu trắng dính phía trong cổ họng ở hai bên lưỡi gà (cục thịt đu đưa ở phía sau miệng), nếu vậy bạn cần đi khám nha khoa. Các vết lốm đốm này còn được gọi là sỏi amidan. Chúng hình thành từ quá trình vôi hóa thực phẩm, chất nhầy và khối vi khuẩn. Tình trạng này xảy ra khá phổ biến và bạn phải lấy chúng ra một cách cẩn thận.
- Một số nhà nghiên cứu người Pháp phát hiện có khoảng 6% dân số có sỏi amidan ở các mức độ khác nhau.
Gặp bác sĩ hoặc nha sĩ nếu bạn bị khô miệng mãn tính và có hơi thở hôi. Có nhiều nguyên nhân gây khô miệng và dẫn đến hơi thở hôi, mặc dù thiếu nước là nguyên nhân chính nhưng một số bệnh, thuốc và các vấn đề sức khỏe khác cũng có thể gây ra khô miệng. Ngạt mũi, tiểu đường, tác dụng phụ của thuốc chống trầm cảm, thuốc kháng histamin và thuốc lợi tiểu, phóng xạ trị liệu và hội chứng Sjögren, tất cả đều làm khô miệng. Nha sĩ sẽ giúp bạn nhận biết các nguyên nhân tiềm ẩn và hướng dẫn bạn đến gặp bác sĩ thực hiện những xét nghiệm này.
Advice
- Quit smoking. One of the leading causes of bad breath is smoking and using tobacco products.
- Avoid eating onions, garlic, and other foods that can leave an unpleasant odor in your breath. These foods have very strong smells that linger in the mouth for a long time.
