Whether it was a date, job interview or just an average day, everyone has had a time where bad breath struck at the least opportune moment. If you ordered extra garlic on your pizza or just forgot to brush before rushing out the door in the morning, a quick breath mint or piece of gum should be enough to get you through. But what if you experience bad breath more than every once in awhile? If the unpleasant smell of your breath is a recurring, embarrassing problem in your life, here are four easy steps that may help you out:

1) Brush twice a day.
Skipping the toothbrush and toothpaste is a recipe for bad breath. If you aren’t brushing twice a day, stop you probably don’t even need to read any farther. You’ve found the most likely culprit. By not brushing regularly, you allow bacteria to gather and grow in your mouth. That fuzzy feeling your teeth get after not brushing for a day is a layer of bacteria forming on your teeth! In addition to increasing your risk for cavities, these germs often lead to bad breath.

2) Don’t forget to floss.
Unless you have something stuck between your teeth, flossing probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list. But for those who suffer from bad breath, this simple activity could be your solution. When you don’t floss, garlic and other pieces of food with strong odors can get wedged between your teeth, causing an unpleasant smell. Even worse, if you don’t floss for a few days, small chunks of food can even start to rot in your mouth. That’s not going to smell nice!

3) Use a tongue scraper or brush.
The bacteria that causes bad breath doesn’t just hide between your teeth. It can also become trapped in the miniscule grooves and ridges on your tongue. Some toothbrushes come with bumps on the back of the head that are perfect for cleaning your tongue, but you can also purchase a scraper if yours doesn’t have this feature. Just gently scrape the top of your tongue, and you’ll be well on your way to better breath.

Check us out on instagram: @drzufall

Check us out on instagram: @drzufall

4) Rinse with mouthwash.
After you’ve brushed, flossed and scraped, finish off with a bit of mouthwash. Rinsing with the mouthwash of your choice - we personally recommend Listerine - can be both a quick fix and a long-term solution to bad breath problems. The minty taste will give your breath a pick-me-up before you head out the door and it will also help kill off bacteria that would have caused an odor over the next several hours or days. Rinsing and spitting will additionally help remove any pieces of food that you knocked loose when brushing and flossing.

If you’ve tried these four tricks and are still dealing with bad breath, give our dental office a call and let us help. Gum disease, badly decayed teeth, tonsil issues and more can also make your mouth smell unpleasant, so a trip to see the dentist may be in order to figure out what’s causing the problem. We would be happy to help you cure chronic bad breath and allow you to smile freely again. Just call us at 530-246-1188!