You are in a crowded room, maybe a party, or bar and you see someone who catches your attention. Walking up to them, their smile matches yours. They are interested in you, inviting you to sit down. As you do, you wonder if you have bad breath. It can be a little worrisome. While there is no way to truly predict whether you have bad breath at any given moment, there are things you can do to lessen the chance of halitosis ruining a great first date.
How to Prevent Bad Breath
Brushing and flossing regularly, using a tongue scraper, self-examinations of the oral cavity, and avoiding mouthwash with high alcohol content can help you prevent having bad breath. These tips can also help prevent any potential oral health issues that could arise.
Believe it or not one of the best ways to combat halitosis, is to brush and floss regularly. When food gets caught between teeth, it can cause bad breath. Flossing and brushing twice a day remove food particles and keep the oral cavity clean.
Using a tongue scraper can remove bacteria from the surface of the tongue. When left in place, bacteria can cause bad breath.
It is important to do self-examinations for a variety of reasons. When gums are discolored and do not appear pink and healthy, it could mean an infection has set in caused by bacteria. When sores are found it could be indicative of a serious condition in need of treatment. Whether it’s a buildup of bacteria or gum disease, either could cause bad breath.
It is important to avoid using mouthwash with high alcohol content. This can dry out the oral cavity tissues and cause halitosis.
In Conclusion
The easiest way to avoid embarrassing bad breath is to simply brush and floss regularly. Incorporating a tongue scraper into your dental hygiene practices can be of benefit too. In a pinch, a breath mint can help but it won’t address the cause. It will only mask the odor.