Everyone has most likely dealt with bad breath. However, the root of this embarrassing social taboo is often more complicated than you’d suspect. Unfortunately, it is not as easy to rid bad breath as it is to get it in the first place. Let’s take a look into the causes of bad breath and how you can avoid it.

For some, according to Discovery Health & Fitness, banishing bad breath is as easy as brushing your teeth, flossing and using mouthwash regularly. This is the basic way to remove plaque, the barely visible film of bacteria that contributes to bad breath. Keeping up with these regular cleansing practices to remove plaque may sufficiently fix your bad breath. Yet, for others, it may not be this simple. Without properly removing plaque, tartar forms as the plaque harden and must be professionally removed. Once your doctor has cleaned off the tartar, you may have solved your bad breath problem.

Others may find that cavities and gum diseases are at the root of their bad breath, which also need to be treated by a professional. Very rarely bad breath is due to something in the lungs or gastrointestinal tract, or can even be attributed to health problems such as sinus infections. Often, it can be as simple as what you ate for dinner that evening. While flossing and brushing is the first step to eliminating bad breath, cleaning your tongue while brushing is also essential to avoid bacteria build up. Making sure to stay hydrated throughout the day will also help flush any build up and make it easier to avoid bad breath.

As recurrent as it is, morning breath can be destroyed if you eat breakfast and thoroughly cleanse afterward. You could also try all-natural solutions. Green tea has antibacterial compounds that fight the germs in your mouth, so try chasing your meal with some hot tea or sipping on it throughout the day. Other herbs, such as mint, parsley, basil, or cilantro, can help temporarily mask any odor, plus contain high levels of chlorophyll, which provides long-term benefits.

Taking these steps will help you fix any oral odors you are worrying about. We also suggest not smoking cigarettes (an overall health benefit!), to be as clean as possible, and if you are truly stuck on what to do, come see us! We’d love to help you out.