Many people with bad breath have no idea other people can notice it. Yet bad breath can affect your popularity, your career, and even your family life.
Avoiding bad breath should be a priority for anybody who interacts regularly with other people. It’s especially important for people whose livelihoods depend on face to face contact with others, including people working in retail, students, and even homemakers.
Causes of Bad Breath
There are many things that can cause bad breath. It can even be congenital. But usually bad breath is simply caused by poor dental hygiene.
When food becomes stuck between teeth it eventually will begin to decay. This can cause an unpleasant odor to emanate from the mouth. Unfortunately, most people can’t smell their own bad breath. Either they become used to it or the bad breath is exhaled toward other people rather than inhaled.
Failing to brush regularly also can cause a buildup of plaque on the surface of the teeth. If this buildup becomes thick enough, it also can cause an unpleasant odor to form.
Defeating Bad Breath
The simplest method for avoiding bad breath is good oral hygiene habits. Brush after every meal. Floss daily. Gargle with mouthwash regularly. See your dentist for a checkup and teeth cleaning at least twice per year.
Address dental problems such as cavities or gum disease quickly before they can get worse and exacerbate bad breath. Taking care of your teeth will help keep your breath fresh and your smile bright.
If you deal with people face to face on a regular basis, you may need to take additional steps to avoid bad breath including chewing minty gum or using breath mints to freshen your breath. Avoid gums or mints that are made with a lot of sugar as these can accelerate tooth decay which can make bad breath even worse.
