Remember the iconic lip-locking scene between Jack and Rose in the 1998 Oscar-winning movie Titanic? Imagine Jack having bad breath. Gross, isn’t it? Surely, no one would wish to be in such a situation. Yet, according to a survey, somewhere between 35% and 45% percent of people in the world suffer from bad breath at some point during their day. Americans spend around $10 billion on oral hygiene products (e.g., mints, gum, mouthwashes, toothpaste, etc.) to combat bad breath every year.
Bright Side brings you 7 easy ways to combat bad breath like a ninja using things that you probably already have in your home.
And speaking of Rose from the movie Titanic, do you know what her full name actually is? Read until the end of the article to find out!
Use natural mouthwashes and breath fresheners.
- Mint leaves help fight bad breath and freshen up your mouth.
- Spices like cloves, cardamom, and fennel seeds are excellent at fighting mouth odor.
- Baking soda is another natural mouthwash that is readily available. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water and use it to rinse your mouth. Alternatively, you can also dip your wet toothbrush into baking soda and use it to clean your teeth.
- Tea made with fenugreek leaves is a great antibacterial mouth freshener. Start your day by drinking a cup of it.
Drink at least 2 liters of water daily.
Keeping yourself hydrated has many health benefits and avoiding bad breath is just one of them. Saliva prevents bacterial growth and water is needed to keep the salivary glands working efficiently. Drinking water is paramount when it comes to preventing bacterial growth and bad breath caused by inadequate moisture and saliva in the mouth. Avoid sugary juices at night as they can aid bacterial buildup during the night.
Watch what you eat!
Some foods are known to cause bad breath so it’s best to avoid them if you want your mouth to smell minty fresh. Onions and garlic are the most common culprits when it comes to causing bad breath. But also remember to not completely do away with onions as research shows that eating onions in moderation killed 4 different strains of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Also, avoid foods that are high in fructose or acidic acid as they encourage bacterial growth.
If you are hungry, try eating apples or some yogurt. Apples contain heteropolysaccharide pectin which is known to stimulate saliva production, while the active cultures in yogurt help reduce bacteria in the mouth.
Scrape your tongue.
Your tongue can be a breeding ground for smelly bacteria. After you brush your teeth, use your toothbrush to scrape your tongue of any bacteria, byproducts from the bacteria, or plaque. You can also use a tongue scraper for this.
Brush twice a day and floss once.
Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day, and floss at least once. A study showed that only a little over 55% of women brushed twice a day and the percentage of men doing so is even lower at just 49%. Brushing and flossing help remove trapped food and odor-causing bacteria from the mouth.
Keep your gums healthy.
Bacteria gather in pockets at the base of the teeth, creating an odor. Gum diseases are known to cause bad breath. To keep your gums healthy, choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Also, quit smoking since smoking weakens your immune system and is strongly associated with the onset of gum-related problems.
Also, smoking makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’ve been damaged.
Chew a fruit peel.
Rinse off the peel of a citrus fruit like a lemon or orange before popping it into your mouth to chew. It will not only give your breath a burst of freshness but the citric acid in it will also encourage the salivary glands to produce more saliva which is the mouth’s natural defense against bad breath and tooth decay-causing plaque acids.
Now that you know these handy ways to keep bad breath at bay, spread the word among your friends. Do you know other ways too? Let us know in the comments below.
Please note: This article was updated in May 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.
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