August 6 is National Fresh Breath Day, and to celebrate make sure that your breath and mouth are fresh and clean. Keeping breath smelling sweet isn’t hard if you follow these dentist-recommended tips from the Anchorage Dental Center in Anchorage, AK. 

8 Tips for Fresh Breath

1. Brush & Floss Daily

Keeping up regular oral hygiene is the best way to have a fresh mouth. Brush and floss at least twice a day, right after meals if possible, to protect gums and prevent decay. Diseased gums are a major cause of bad breath because of the bacteria and inflammation that is present. 

2. Use Mouth Wash

Adding a dentist-recommended mouth wash is a great way to keep breath fresh in between brushing or for an extra-clean feel after brushing. Many mouth washes also contain fluoride to aid in cavity prevention.  Make sure that the rinse kills the bacteria that cause bad breath, not just covers up the smell.

3. Scrape Your Tongue

Dead skin cells, food debris, and bacteria all can build up on the tongue and aren’t removed during brushing. Use a tongue scraper to clean off excess build-up or brush the tongue directly with your toothbrush.

4. Avoid Alliums

Garlic and onions, both in the Allium family, are notorious breath-busters. Brushing or mouth wash won’t cover up these smells, however, because the substances in the food that cause the odor actually get into the bloodstream and lungs, where the smell is breathed out. The best way to avoid this is to not eat the foods, especially before a date or special occasion.

5. Stop Smoking

Smoking cigarettes is bad for your health on many levels and also creates stale, stinky breath. Chewing tobacco causes bad breath as well. To improve mouth health and oral hygiene, stop using tobacco products. 

6. Chew Sugarless Gum

Sugar-free gum is better for your teeth than mints. Sugar in mints creates acid conditions in the mouth, which causes tooth decay and bad breath. Chewing gum increases saliva, the mouth’s natural bacteria and bad breath fighter. 

7. Drink Water 

Dry mouth and dehydration are major causes of bad breath because of the lack of saliva present. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you are also drinking diuretics like coffee and cola. 

8. See a Dentist

If you have persistent bad breath after following these tips, see a dentist to find out a possible cause. They can determine if the bad breath is related to a medical condition or an issue in your mouth.

Keep your breath fresh on August 6 and every day. For all your family dentistry needs visit Anchorage Dental Center. Call 907-278-2521 for an appointment or go to their website to find out more about their preventive and advanced procedures.