Don't let your tongue become a dirty carpet.
Brushing and flossing your teeth is so important, but don't forget to gently brush your tongue to get rid of even more bacteria. A clean tongue goes a long way to warding off bad breath. Get in the habit of regularly cleaning your tongue using a toothbrush, the edge of a spoon, or a tongue cleaner. If you have any mouth guards or oral devices, make sure to clean them thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth. Mouthwash isn't a bad idea, but it's only a temporary fix.
Chew gum like it's going out of style.
Saliva is our best weapon against bad breath. When you chew gum it makes you salivate, and the more saliva you have in your mouth the fewer bacteria you have. It not only mechanically washes bacteria out, but we have antiseptic and enzymes in our saliva that kill bacteria. While anything that makes you salivate will improve your breath, a gum that is sweetened with xylitol is your best option. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that not only increases salvation but also works to prevent bacteria from replicating in the mouth. Mints, on the other hand, don't usually stimulate saliva production and only temporarily mask bad odor.
Choose sugarless cinnamon-flavored gum.
A recent study of the cinnamon-flavored gum Big Red found that cinnamon might have breath-odor fighting abilities. Unlike other flavors, cinnamon is not just a cover-up. An ingredient in the flavoring appears to actually decrease the bacteria in your mouth. The only problem is that sugar gums are bad for your teeth, so stick to sugarless cinnamon-flavored gum instead.
Drink more water.
Make drinking water as a habit, because water will help keep the bacteria in your mouth to a minimum. Drinking water has a lot of health benefits, and preventing bad breath is one of them.
Rule out rare causes for bad breath.
While most bad breath can be banished with simple hygienic steps, there are times when dental or medical conditions might be the culprit. Make an appointment with your dentist if an unsavory odor takes residence in your mouth. Your dentist will be able to pinpoint any cavities or decay, or even periodontal (gum) disease that might be causing your bad breath. Because on rare occasions bad breath can signal a larger problem, including infection, and even kidney or liver failure, you should also visit a doctor if your dentist does not find a cause for your bad breath problem.
If you are on one of the many popular low-carbohydrate diets, remember that bad breath or "ketone breath" is a potential side effect when you always have that burger sans bun. You can try different methods of masking the odor, such as gum or tart candies, but adding a few carbohydrates to your daily diet might also do the trick.
Get a water pick.
You can not really clean your entire mouth with a toothbrush. Using an irrigator or water pick cleans everything out around and under your gums and between your teeth. If food lingers between your teeth where a toothbrush does not reach, it's fermenting. Next time you floss, take a whiff of your floss after you're done, and you'll have a good idea about what fermented or rotten food particles smell like.
Do not let bad breath go to your head.
If you think you have bad breath, get a second opinion.
Source : WebMD Reference
