It’s not necessarily the nicest thing to admit, but if we’re being honest; it’s something we’ve all been guilty of. Whether you’ve forgotten to brush your teeth this morning, you’re onto your third coffee or you’re someone that just really enjoys garlic – bad breath is something that plagues many Australians each day.
However, while we can usually laugh off the instances where we have surprised our nearest and dearest with a stale breath every other morning, for some people, bad breath can be a persistent and ongoing concern.
Depending on the cause of your bad breath, there are ways to treat the problem (on top of brushing your teeth!). If you’re here to learn how to treat bad breath naturally, you’re not alone.
While the core focus at EZ Smile is teeth straightening, we are of the belief that in order to have a fantastic smile, you need to take care of all aspects of your oral health. This includes adapting healthy behaviours that can impact your breath!
How to Treat Bad Breath Naturally: The Basics
Before we jump into some tips down below, lets cover the basics. Bad breath most often originates in the mouth, from bacteria growing on bits of food caught in your teeth. As these bacteria grow, they release compounds that produce an unpleasant smell.
The formal term for this is Halitosis and can affect almost a quarter of the world’s population.
Most people experience bad breath due to poor oral hygiene practices. Without consistent brushing and flossing, there is a much more significant build-up of food and plaque in your mouth. Plaque is the thin layer of bacteria that forms when food builds up in your mouth, this not only produces unpleasant odours that cause bad breath, but also contributes to tooth decay.
Additionally, without a good brushing and flossing routine, gum disease and a build-up of bacteria on your tongue also contribute to having bad breath.
While Halitosis is primarily caused by the build-up of bacteria in your mouth, roughly 10 percent of the time it can be caused by something else. These factors could include starting a new diet, acid reflux or digestive issues, infection, or kidney related issues.
Here are some of the best tips for improving your bad breath, naturally:
Improve your Oral Hygiene
The best solution for bad breath is good oral hygiene practices. A general rule of thumb is to brush twice daily, giving your teeth a good floss once a day. Brushing your teeth will remove any built-up food or plaque on your teeth. Brushing will also stimulate a positive response in your gums, protecting against inflammation and disease, and will also help remove any build up occurring on your tongue.
Once a day before you brush your teeth, you should floss. It is important to floss before you brush as it will clean out and loosen up any food in hard-to-reach places in your mouth. When flossing, make sure to floss either side of your gums to ensure you are cleaning out all the spaces in between your teeth.
Change Your Toothbrush
This one is easy to forget so we gave it its own heading. Many people forget to swap out their older toothbrush, wearing down the bristles and ensuring the tool is far less effective than what it is designed to be. To keep your teeth clean and your breath nice and fresh, swap out your tooth brush every 2-3 months.
Drink Plenty of Water
Our top tip for how to get fresh breath naturally? Glug down a big glass of water! As is the case with many minor health concerns, water is a fantastic remedy for stinky or stale breath. Drinking water increases the saliva in your mouth and saliva has antimicrobial properties that play an important role in keeping your mouth clean and bacteria at bay.
Ever wondered why your breath is at its worst in the morning after just having woken up? You can thank bacteria. Your mouth dries out while you sleep, and without a moist mouth, bacteria have the opportunity to thrive. Drinking water throughout the day will not only keep your body well hydrated and come with a whole host of other health benefits but will also encourage saliva production to combat bad breath.
Aim for between two to two and half litres of water consumption per day. And remember -this is 2 and a half litres of water. While it may be tempting to try and up your liquid intake with caffeinated or sugary drinks, this will definitely work against combatting bad breath.
Assess Your Diet
Your diet can have considerable impacts on the way your breath smells.
While it may seem counterintuitive to treat bad breath by eating food, it is in fact one of the best ways to improve your bad breath. Just make sure it’s the right foods!
Firstly, highly processed food may contain high amounts of additives and flavouring which don’t always leave the best aftertaste in your mouth. Additionally, theses food can be hard for the body to digest and result in a build of gas in the body. This gas can be released through the mouth, and – you guessed it – leave you with bad breath.
Highly processed and fast foods also tend to have a higher amount of oil in them. Eating oily foods can lead to acidity in the stomach and result in gastric reflux, another cause of bad breath.
So, how to treat bad breath naturally with food, you ask?
How to Fight Bad Breath Naturally with Fresh Food
Eating a balanced diet that incorporates lots of fresh food is not only a great way to fight bad breath, but it is obviously going to benefit your overall health. Chewing on raw crunchy foods can help to clean your teeth and stimulate saliva production.
Implementing a healthy diet is also extremely beneficial for your gut health and digestion. The various vitamins and minerals you receive when eating a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and various other foods will make your body feel great and have a positive effect on your oral health and Halitosis. If you are still not convinced, dieticians and nutritionists regularly advise on how to treat bad breath naturally with a few healthy foods.
What Can I Eat to Prevent Bad Breath?
Oranges
Ever had bad breath after eating an orange? We thought not. Oranges are rich in vitamin C, which prevents the growth of bacteria in your mouth and help protect against many gum infections. Additionally, you can chew on the peel of an orange or lemon which contains citric acid to stimulate your salivary glands. Other helpful vitamin C rich foods include berries and melons.
Fibre Rich Foods
Fibre rich foods such as carrots, apples, and celery help to keep your mouth clean and ensure a healthy intestine and digestive tract, reducing any blockages and production of bad breath.
Cloves, Fennel or Aniseeds
These spices act as natural breath fresheners as their antiseptic properties help fight against bacteria in your mouth.
Yoghurt
Yoghurt can also help with bad breath as the active cultures fight against the odour causing bacteria in your mouth.
So, there you have it – our top tips on how to fight bad breath naturally. While our primary concern is always going to be straightening teeth, we understand the importance of good oral hygiene too!
Now that you’ve sorted your breath are you ready to invest in a million-dollar smile to match? If so, look no further than EZ Smile. Join thousands other customers who have achieved a clear straight smile using our easy to use and affordable clear aligners. Take our 30 second assessment or get in touch with our team today to learn more.
