Dental Health Topics

August 6th is National Fresh Breath Day!

August 6th is National Fresh Breath Day!

The quality of your breath is a social faux-pas that can ruin just about any good party. Rest assured, though, as quickly as bad breath can ruin a good night out, correcting it can be just as simple.

Aside from your regularly scheduled cleaning, which keeps tartar, gum disease, and bad breath in check, try a few of these measures to make sure you're the center of conversation at the party, not your breath:

Replace your toothbrush at least every three months

If you're not replacing your toothbrush every few months you're robbing your oral care routine of the best tool in its arsenal.

An old toothbrush is an ineffective toothbrush, and it will hamper your efforts to remove plaque and food debris from your teeth. Both attract and generate bacteria that cause bad breath, so toss the old and bring in the new.

Floss

This one is simple, and everyone knows it's important. Still, it’s the first thing we stop doing after a thorough cleaning at the dentist's office. The only real way to stick with flossing is to make it easy.

Start by having your floss in plain sight, so each time you visit the bathroom, it will register in your mind that you've got to floss. Don't place it in the cabinet – stick it right on the countertop. Believe it or not, our subconscious mind is phenomenal at convincing us when we need to create a good habit, or end a bad one.

Try a tongue scraper

There are many versions of scrapers on the market, and they're super cheap. Find one you like and use it once a night.

Even after what you think is a thorough cleaning, you'll be amazed how much debris a tongue scraper removes from your tongue. Less debris and bacteria means fresher breath. Try it!

Stay hydrated

Drinking water throughout the day promotes saliva production, and is your mouth's natural defense against the germs that cause bad breath.

If you ignore the other tips here, drinking water will at least help a little bit. Besides, being well-hydrated does a world of good for your body.

Cover it up in a pinch 

If your mom ever told you to eat the parsley on your plate when dining out, maybe she was actually trying to tell you your breath needed some freshening!

Parsley appears to have antibacterial and antifungal properties which can help keep your mouth clean. Yogurt and celery also work in a similar fashion, and sugar free gum with Xylitol can also help to promote salivation without adding sugar into the mix.

So, that's it. A few simple things that can help you maintain fresh breath and remain welcome at every gathering you would like to attend.