Millions of people across the world suffer from bad breath. Medically known as chronic halitosis, this dental condition can truly be a cause of embarrassment. Bad breath starts from the tongue or teeth and can be caused by a variety of factors ranging from bad oral hygiene to untreated dental disorders. Here are some quick tips to tackle bad breath successfully:

Brush the right way
When brushing one’s teeth, keep in mind to brush the right way. One should use a soft, circular motion to clean effectively. Additionally, one should remember to brush their teeth at least twice a day and change the toothbrush once every three months. If one has a severe bad breath issue, they should consider switching to an electric toothbrush for better cleaning results.

Floss daily
Tiny debris of food can get lodged in the gaps between the teeth and lead to bad breath. More often than not, the toothbrush cannot reach and clean these crevices. Hence, it is advisable to use dental floss at least once a day to ensure that one’s mouth is clean post meals. Do not floss too roughly, as this can increase the gaps between the teeth. If unsure, ask the dentist how to floss the right way.

Use a tongue cleaner
Bacteria on the surface of the tongue can produce a foul-smelling odor when they come in contact with leftover food particles. The clearest sign of this is a yellow or white residue at the back of your tongue. It is advisable to use a tongue cleaner daily to get a breath that stays fresh all day long. Many toothbrushes come with a tongue cleaner built onto the back of the bristles. One should never use the bristles of the toothbrush to clean the tongue as they are rough and can cause bleeding.

Quit smoking
Smoking can cause a number of diseases, such as cancer, in the long run, and this is enough reason to stub it out. However, in the short-term too, smoking dries out your mouth and leads to bad breath. Smoking also increases the risk of one developing tartar and leads to inflammation of the salivary glands, all of which can leave a lingering foul odor in the mouth.

Use a mouthwash
If one is in a hurry and needs to deal with their bad breath, it is best to use a mouthwash to freshen up. Keeping a mouthwash in your bag is always a great way to stay ready for any meeting or plans. However, do remember that a mouthwash merely masks a bad breath problem temporarily; it does not solve it.

Stay hydrated
Not drinking enough water can cause the tongue to go dry and leave one with bad breath. When one drinks water, they wash away foul bacteria and leftover food debris from their mouth. Eating fruits – such as watermelon and apple – that are high in water content also help deal with bad breath.

Check with the dentist
Bad breath that persists in spite of one having taken all precautions is indicative of an underlying dental health issue. It is important for one to speak to the dentist to get treatment as soon as possible in such cases.