Do you ever wonder if you have bad breath? Do you feel like others are noticing your oral health? We’re providing a few simple tips to get fresh breath and maintain it each day, all day.

First, let’s take a look into the handful of factors that contribute to bad breath:  

• Bacteria: hundreds of types of bad breath-causing bacteria can form in your mouth at any time. Your mouth also acts like a natural greenhouse, trapping bacteria and allowing them to grow.
• Dry Mouth and Saliva: Saliva is essential because it helps wash away bacteria and food particles from your mouth. People with a dry mouth have an increased risk of experiencing bad breath.
• Gum Disease: Bad breath that won’t go away or an endless bad taste in your mouth can be an early warning sign of gum disease. If there’s a funny taste in your mouth, don’t ignore it.
• Medical Conditions: Mouth infections can cause bad breath as well as sinus conditions, gastric reflux, diabetes, and liver or kidney disease. Give your dentist a list of the medications you are taking to help determine if one could be causing bad breath.

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Now let’s take a look into a couple of foods and other products that are notorious for causing bad breath:

• Foods: Garlic, onions, coffee, cheese, fish, and more can leave your breath smelling hours after you’ve eaten. Keep in mind that what you eat directly affects the breath that you exhale.
• Smoking and Tobacco: Smoking stains your teeth and gives you bad breath, and isn’t the only form of tobacco that can damage your oral health and cause bad breath. Remember that tobacco products tend to dry out the mouth, making bad breath even worse.

How to get fresh breath:

• Brushing and flossing: Don’t forget to properly brush your teeth twice a day, and floss daily. This consistent routine helps maintain your oral hygiene and prevent stinky breath. 
• Mouthwash: Mouthwash temporarily kills bacteria, but it is only a mask for a clean mouth. Thus, brushing and flossing your teeth is the most effective method for bad breath prevention. Then, follow with mouthwash for extra long-lasting freshness.
• Visit your dentist regularly: Catching an oral health problem early on is the best method to prevent serious dental damage, so it is important to see your dentist regularly.

If you remember to keep your daily oral health routine in check, you can focus on the other important parts of life. Start your day with the confidence of a strong oral health routine. Keep in mind what causes bad breath and how to prevent it so you can focus on what’s in front of you instead of your breath.