You’re ready for your date. No salad between your teeth, your style rivals that of the biggest stars, but then you suddenly have a doubt… ‘Is my breath fresh? Because bad breath is a bit like your mate who’s always crashing parties – nobody invited him, but he’s there anyway. Luckily, we’ve got a few tips to help you keep your breath as fresh as your style!
Where does bad breath come from?
We’d like to reassure you: 20% of the population suffers from halitosis (bad breath) and it’s completely normal! In nine cases out of ten, it comes directly from your oral cavity. The culprits behind your bad breath are often bacteria. Among other things, they feed on the remains of food stuck between your teeth and on your tongue. The decomposition of these food remains can lead to bad breath if there are too many bacteria. We tell you more in our article on why we have bad breath.
How do you get rid of bad breath?
There are a few simple steps you can take to get rid of bad breath!
1. Brush your teeth well to get rid of bad breath
A classic, but no less effective! Brushing your teeth at least twice a day can go a long way towards getting rid of bad breath. Our extra tip: use fluoride toothpaste and brush your tongue too! 60% of bacteria are found on your tongue! You can use a special brush if you like.
2. Avoid certain drinks such as coffee and alcohol
We also advise against coffee, which not only gives you yellow teeth but also dries out your mouth, making it easier for bacteria to develop. As we saw earlier, bacteria cause a bad odour. The same applies to alcohol.
3. Scaling is your ally against bad breath
This may not be what you wanted to hear, but scaling can help with bad breath. We recommend that you see a dental hygienist every 6 months to a year.
4. Don’t eat strong-smelling foods
Before a date, we advise you to avoid strong-smelling foods such as spices, cabbage, protein powders, onions and, of course, garlic! Most of these release unpleasant odours when they decompose.
5. Drink water
We talked about it before: a dry mouth means more bacteria and therefore more odours! Drink enough water regularly to keep yourself hydrated and to clean your mouth and get rid of bad smells!
Do you still have bad breath?
If, despite good dental hygiene, you still have bad breath, an oral disease could be the reason. In fact, certain conditions can cause halitosis, such as inflamed gums, mouth ulcers or dental abscesses. If this is the case, we strongly advise you to make an appointment to see your dentist!
