The Complete Guide to Getting Rid of Bad Breath: Everything to Know

If you are looking for new ways to make your breath smell good, this guide can help. Here is everything to know about getting rid of bad breath.

Around 30 percent of the population complains about having some sort of bad breath. Are you worried about your breath?



Bad breath can be a major turn-off as you talk to others and it can also affect your self-esteem. Looking for ways of getting rid of bad breath? Keep reading to learn more from this Jensen Beach dentist to keep your breath smelling fresh.

Causes of Bad Breath

A common myth about bad breath is that it comes from your stomach—this is not true. Typically, bad breath comes from your gums, teeth, back of the tongue, tonsils, and throat. These are the areas where the bacteria live that produce these sulfur-containing compounds that result in bad breath.

If you have gum disease, bad breath is common because bacteria go under the surface of the gums and cause inflammation and release those odor-causing sulfur compounds.



If you have food particles stuck in your mouth, that can also cause odors. You wake up with bad breath because the bacteria dry out overnight causing them to increase their activity.

Avoid Foods That Trigger Bad Breath

Certain foods can cause bad breath. If you have something important and want to avoid bad breath, try eliminating these foods:

• Sweetened beverages
• Sticky foods
• Fried foods
• Onions
• Garlic
• Sugar



Some of these foods have sugar that leads to gum disease or causes tooth decay. Others take a while to digest like fried foods. Onions and garlic are healthy, but you may want to avoid these or eat in moderation if you are trying to avoid bad breath.

Drink Lots of Water for Getting Rid of Bad Breath

As we mentioned above, a dry mouth can cause bad breath because of bacteria. You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep the bacteria in your mouth from activity. Keep that water handy to keep your mouth hydrated—plus, water has several other benefits for your body in addition to combating bad breath.

Scrape Your Tongue

Bad breath can also come from the plaque on your tongue's folds, mostly toward the back. You can clear this away by using a tongue scraper twice a day.

Brush and Floss More Often

You should also brush your teeth after eating, using fluoride toothpaste or toothpaste for bad breath. Toothpaste has antibacterial properties to reduce bad breath.

If you floss properly, you get plaque and food particles out from between your teeth to help control bad breath. Plaque collects bacteria that cause bad breath and trapped food can also cause odors.



Take a toothbrush to work or keep one with you to help get rid of bad breath.

Chew Gum

Bacteria in your mouth love sugar and they use it to create acid. This acid causes bad breath and also causes bad breath.

Try chewing sugarless gum. The gum will stimulate saliva, which is your body's natural defense to plaque acids.

Looking for More Bad Breath Solutions?

There are things you can do for getting rid of bad breath. Try watching what you eat, and if you eat something that triggers bad breath, make sure you brush your teeth. Try chewing sugar-free gum after eating when you are out and about.



Looking for more answers from a dentist in Jensen Beach? Contact us today for more bad breath questions or any other oral health concerns. We look forward to helping you smile with confidence.