‘Tis the season of Christmas parties, family gatherings, and other social events – make sure your breath is fresh and ready for all of that socializing with these simple tips for battling bad breath.
- Avoid foods that cause bad breath. It seems simple enough, right? But some of the worst bad breath creators are ones you never expected including citrus fruits, canned fish, horseradish, peanut butter, and coffee. If possible, avoid eating these foods in large quantities or when you don’t have a toothbrush nearby.
- Chew sugarless gum. Have you ever been in a time crunch and not able to brush your teeth to freshen up? It is proven that chewing sugarless gum can help stimulate saliva production and filter out food debris.
- Avoid happy hour and after dinner temptations. Coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and tea are known to leave unpleasant smells and damage your enamel. If you feel like indulging, be sure to drink lots of water as you do so.
- Rinse. If you are ever in a gum-less and mint-less situation, swishing water in your mouth for a few seconds will help remove unwanted food. Although not a replacement for brushing, it can help destroy the sugar buildup that can cause the formation of odor building bacteria.
Bad breath could be more than just what you’re eating and drinking. It could be the sign of an underlying medical condition. If bad breath is putting a damper on your life, give Jackson Dental a call today at 573-243-5200.