Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto a soft bristled toothbrush and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Brush your teeth on every surface in short, gentle strokes, being careful not to press too hard or irritate the gums. If done properly, brushing should take about three minutes. Brush your teeth and rinse with mouth wash at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day. Take care to brush all the areas of your mouth, including gums and tongue, and not just your teeth. [1] X Research source
By brushing your tongue, you’re removing bacteria that can contribute to a bad taste or odor in your mouth, as well as tooth decay and gum disease. [3] X Expert Source Alina Lane, DDSBoard Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 21 April 2020. If you have a sensitive gag reflex, tongue-brushing may aggravate the problem. Read How to Suppress the Gag Reflex for some tips.
Cinnamon flavoring seems to be especially effective in reducing bacteria counts in your mouth. [6] X Research source Look for gum sweetened with xylitol (sugar only feeds the bacteria, causing more odor problems). Xylitol is a sugar substitute that actually works to prevent bacteria from replicating in the mouth. [7] X Research source
Chewing gum stimulates saliva production (in addition to covering up the odor with some kind of scent). Mints do not encourage saliva production. [6] X Research source Drink water. Swish the water between your teeth from side to side. Water won’t necessarily increase saliva production, but it’ll wash out your mouth — and it is good for you. See How to Drink More Water Every Day. Dry mouth can be caused by certain medications and medical conditions. Ask your doctor about switching medications, or addressing the underlying condition.
Tobacco addiction can be a hard habit to break, so visit this helpful wikiHow page for tips and advice. In some cases, bad breath can be an early sign of oral cancer caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. You must stop smoking and see your doctor to be evaluated for this very serious condition. Smoking tobacco will also leave unattractive yellow stains on your teeth. [10] X Expert Source Alina Lane, DDSBoard Certified Dentist Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.
Vegetables in the Allium family, like onion, garlic, leeks, and chives, have a notorious pungent aroma. Eating these foods and foods prepared with them like hummus or curry can leave your breath particularly aromatic. However, these foods also have many health benefits, so rather than eliminating them, try to limit them to times when you will be alone afterwards, like dinners at home. [11] X Research source Recognize that even brushing won’t be enough to really eliminate raw garlic smells and other pungent aromas. In fact, your body digests these foods, and the odor goes into the bloodstream and lungs and comes back out again as bad breath! If you eat a diet that is very high in these foods, reducing them (without completely eliminating them) may go a long way in improving your breath. [12] X Research source
If you can’t or don’t want to quit drinking these beverages, be sure that after drinking them you rinse your mouth well with water or a mix of one part baking soda to eight parts water, and then brush your teeth well about 30 minutes later. [14] X Research source Avoid brushing directly after drinking coffee or alcohol (or other acidic foods or drinks), as the acid in the drink can make your teeth vulnerable to abrasion from brushing. [15] X Research source
In addition, fruits with high vitamin C content will help you fight potentially harmful bacteria, which can be a cause of bad breath. This will also happen to anyone who fasts, whether for religious reasons or because they are anorexic. If you are anorexic, bad breath is only one of the reasons to stop starving yourself. Read How to Cope if You Want to Become Anorexic.
Tonsil stones are often harmless but cause a reeking bad breath. If you see a small white patch on the tonsil, try swabbing it gently with a cotton swab (be careful not to gag yourself, and don’t press too hard). If it comes off on the swab and is a liquid or pus, you likely have a tonsil infection; however, if it doesn’t come off or if it comes out as a solid chunk of white matter, it is likely a stone. Smell it and you’ll know for sure. You might also notice a metallic taste in your mouth or an obstructed feeling when swallowing.
Bad breath can be caused by metformin, a type 2 diabetes medication. If you take metformin, talk to your doctor about alternate treatment options. [18] X Research source
Trimethylaminuria. If your body can’t break down a chemical called trimethylamine, it will be released in your saliva, causing bad breath. It’ll also be released in your sweat, so persistent body odor might be an accompanying symptom. Infection: Several types of infections such as sinusitis and infections of the stomach can result in bad breath. It is important to have any unusual symptoms checked out by your doctor, including this one. [19] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Kidney disease or failure: In particular, a metallic or ammonia taste and scent to the breath can indicate severe problems with the kidneys. See your doctor if you have this symptom. [20] X Research source
