Brush Your Teeth

Brush your teeth at least twice a day to prevent build-up of odor causing bacteria. Brushing your teeth before going to bed will reduce bad breath significantly because it removes left over food and plaque that has built up throughout the day. At night your mouth becomes more acidic, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Brush your teeth before bedtime and you will reduce the odor causing colony dramatically.

Floss Daily

Flossing can be a hassle, but it does wonders to bad breath. Toothbrush bristles cannot get in between your teeth but dental floss can get the job done! If there is food stuck between your teeth bacteria will feed on it, causing bad breath and health issues. Under flossing will allow plague to build up, making it more difficult to remove in the future.

Clean Your Tongue

Your tongue is like a sponge, absorbing the flavors and juices entering your mouth. Over time the tongue builds up residue in between the taste buds and tongue folds, clean it with a tongue scraper or tooth brush to prevent bad breath. Mouth wash does a great job with cleaning your tongue but brushing it will prevent long term odor.

Frequent Checkups

Frequent visits to the dentist is key to maintaining oral health. If you are having chronic bad breath but are taking care of your teeth. This might be a sign of an infection. Your dentist will point you in the right direction for curing your bad breath and preventing diseases.

Quit Tobacco

Smoking is harmful to your body and your breath. Tobacco dries out the mouth allowing bacteria to multiply. Smoking will also leave an unpleasant lingering smell. This odor cannot be fixed by simply brushing your teeth due to the smell traveling all the way down to the lungs.

Drink Water

Dry mouth will lead to bad breath. Make sure you are drinking a sufficient amount of water every day to keep your mouth healthy and smelling fresh. Drinking water throughout the day will wash away food particles and keep your odor under control. If you have chronic dry mouth talk to a physician or take over the counter saliva substitute.

Chew on Sugarless Gum or Crunchy Fruit & Veggies

Fresh fruits and vegetables are great snacks in between meals to increase saliva flow to wash away bacteria and prevent plaque buildup. Sugar free gum will have similar affect as chewing on fruits and veggies because this will promote salivation. These snacks can prevent bad breath cause by hunger or fasting due to the build up of acid in the stomach.