Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Get rid of bad breath with dental care products
• Method 2 of 5: Chew things to freshen your breath
• Method 3 of 5: Using water to fight bad breath
• Method 4 of 5: Test if you have bad breath
• Method 5 of 5: Know when to see the dentist
• Tips

Nothing affects your confidence more than having bad breath. You caught a whiff of it in an important meeting and now you're insecure about yourself. You refuse to get close to your partner because you fear he or she thinks you are dirty. You don't want to breathe on a flower because you fear it will wilt. If this describes you, know that there are things you can do right away to make your breath less likely to smell. However, if you have bad breath on a regular basis, consider when you last went to the dentist. Bad breath can be caused by gingivitis, periodontal disease, strong smelling food, inflammation of the stomach lining (GERD) or bad brushing, leaving food debris in the teeth.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Get rid of bad breath with dental care products

1. Use a travel toothbrush. Some people who suffer from halitosis or who are unsure of their breath take a toothbrush with them. Also take a small tube of toothpaste with you. If you don't have a toothbrush, know that brushing your teeth with tap water can cause the microbes that collect in your mouth while you eat to give off a less strong odor. Small travel toothbrushes can be bought cheaply at all supermarkets, drug stores or pharmacies.
   • You can also try taking a pack of small disposable toothbrushes with you. This way your toothbrush will not get dirty and you will be able to use a clean toothbrush every time.
2. Floss your teeth. You can also easily go to the bathroom to floss your teeth. You can do this in addition to or instead of brushing. Many types of floss leave a peppermint-like taste in your mouth that helps freshen your breath.
   • Dentists recommend flossing after every meal to make sure no food particles get stuck between your teeth. If this seems like too much work for you, floss your teeth at least once a day to combat bad breath. You should preferably do this before you go to sleep.
   • Flossing after eating is one of the best ways to combat halitosis (bad breath).
   • Consider bringing floss or flossing tools with you so you can easily floss your teeth on the go. For example, you could bring toothpicks or flossers.
3. Use Listerine or another type of bacterial mouthwash. Listerine is sold in small bottles suitable for travel. You can easily take these bottles with you in your back pocket or your handbag. Gargle it for 20 seconds and then spit it out. It helps fight the bacteria that cause bad breath and will also leave your mouth smelling fresh. Make sure to choose a mouthwash that also works for gingivitis and plaque.
   • Listerine also makes breath strips that dissolve on your tongue. These strips are specially made to fight bad breath quickly, but can be quite strong.

Method 2 of 5: Chew things to freshen your breath

1. Chew some sugar-free gum. Sugar-free gum helps to stimulate saliva production. This will keep your mouth from drying out. A dry mouth often causes bad breath because the bacteria that cause the bad smell are not flushed out. Chewing gum can also help remove food debris from the cracks between your teeth. However, don't just use sugar-free gum to properly clean your teeth. Don't stop brushing and flossing.
   • You can also buy natural gum made from peppermint and other herbs. This will help disguise bad breath and remove food debris from between your teeth.
2. Chew on herbs such as peppermint, parsley, basil or wintergreen. These herbs will not clean your teeth, but will fight your bad breath with a strong scent. This works in the short term, but should not be seen as a long-term solution. Also make sure that no residues of these herbs get stuck in your teeth. You don't want to have large chunks of parsley between your teeth instead of bad breath.
3. Chew on nuts and seeds. Nuts have a strong odor and the abrasive texture will remove any food debris from between your teeth, on your tongue, and on your gums. Dill and fennel seeds hide bad smells very well. Aniseed tastes a bit like licorice root and has antiseptic properties.

Method 3 of 5: Using water to fight bad breath

1. Drink water with lemon or lime. In addition to tasting good and being a healthy alternative to soda, this acidic water mixture can also have a powerful effect on bad breath. Since one of the main causes of bad breath is simply dry mouth - something normally associated with morning breath - the water will help to moisten your mouth and thus largely reduce the odor.
   • Squeeze as much of the lemon or lime juice into the water as possible, as this will help disguise the odor. The acid in the lemon or lime helps fight the bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath.
2. Use a portable oral irrigator. This device, also known as a waterpik, is often used in place of dental floss. It uses a powerful jet of water to rinse away food debris stuck between your teeth. You can also use the oral irrigator to rinse your tongue. Just go to the bathroom, fill the device with water and start spraying. If you have some mouthwash, you can pour it into the water reservoir to help combat your bad breath even more effectively.
3. Rinse your mouth with water. Then use a dry paper towel to rub all of your teeth. You can also do this with the inside of your T-shirt or shirt. This will make your teeth feel very smooth, as if you just brushed your teeth. Then rinse your mouth again. If you have the familiar rough, brown paper towels, you can rub your tongue with them to partially remove the layer of plaque on them. While doing so, rub towards the outer edge of your tongue.

Method 4 of 5: Test if you have bad breath

1. Ask someone else. Most people cup their hand and try to breathe into it to smell their own breath, but this usually just gives you an idea of ​​what your hand smells like. Because the nasal cavities are connected to the mouth, this technique does not give you an accurate picture of what your breath smells like. The best way to find out right away if you have bad breath is to ask someone you feel comfortable with. Find a loved one - someone who won't find it so disgusting - and let him or her sniff your breath quickly. The other does not need to be able to clearly smell your breath. It is enough to exhale quickly.
2. Lick the inside of your wrist. Stand to the side and lick the inside of your wrist. Since your wrist doesn't rub against many things, this will help you find out what your breath smells like. Wait for your saliva to dry and then give your wrist a quick sniff. This is one of the most accurate methods of smelling your own breath.
3. Scrape your tongue with a spoon to test your breath. Grab a spoon and place it upside down on the back of your tongue. Slowly but surely pull the spoon towards the front of your tongue. Now look at the remains that you have collected on the spoon. If the residue is transparent, you probably don't have bad breath. Chances are that the residue will be a milky, white, or even a yellowish color. What you have collected is a layer of bacteria that has accumulated on your tongue. These bacteria are the cause of your bad breath.
   • It is important to scrape the back of your tongue while brushing your teeth. This is where most of the bacteria that cause bad breath are located.
   • You can also perform this test with gauze, which you can buy at any pharmacy. However, everyone has a spoon at home and it is therefore easier to use a spoon.
4. Have your breath tested with a Halimeter. The Halimeter test checks whether your breath contains residues of sulphides. Sulfur compounds are common in the human mouth, but a large amount of them can indicate bad breath. Sulfur smells like eggs, and this isn't what you want your mouth to smell like at an important meeting. Your dentist will probably have to perform the test for you, but it is also possible to buy your own Halimeter if you would like such a device yourself. However, they are very expensive.
5. Ask your dentist to perform a gas chromatography test. This test measures how much sulfur and other chemicals you have in your mouth. This is the most effective test to find out if you have bad breath and the readings are considered the gold standard.

Method 5 of 5: Know when to see the dentist

1. Go to the dentist if you have chronic bad breath. If you've tried many of the steps in this article and you still have bad breath, it's time to see a dentist. Bad breath is one of the most obvious signs of gum disease and plaque build-up. Your dental hygienist and dentist will be able to explain what else you can do to take care of your teeth and mouth. They will also help you treat the dental problems you may have.
2. If you have seen white patches on your tonsils, go to the dentist. You may have looked into your mouth to find out what caused your bad breath. If you have seen white patches in the back of your mouth or on both sides of your uvula (the ball that hangs in the back of your throat) then you should see the dentist. These white spots are tonsil stones. These are calcified food residues, mucus and lumps of bacteria. Almond stones are certainly not uncommon, but they do need to be removed carefully.
   • French researchers found that about six percent of people suffer from tonsil stones to some extent.
3. See a dentist or doctor if you have chronic dry mouth and bad breath. A dry mouth that leads to bad breath can have several causes. The main cause is dehydration, but certain conditions, medications, and other body problems can cause dry mouth. A stuffy nose, diabetes, side effects of antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics, radiotherapy (radiation) and Sjögren's syndrome can all cause you to have a dry mouth. For many of these tests, your dentist will refer you to a doctor, but this can help determine the possible causes of your dry mouth.

Tips

• Stop smoking. One of the main causes of bad breath is smoking and the use of other tobacco products.
• Try to avoid onions, garlic, and other foods that could cause bad breath. These foods have a strong, unappealing taste that can linger in your mouth for a long time.