Bad breath is a sensitive topic. If your breath is a bit stale or pungent, chances are no one has told you – and won’t be telling you anytime soon.
Bad breath is caused by several things, including poor oral hygiene, gum disease, and dental cavities. Other culprits include certain foods, dry mouth, heartburn, ulcers or infections such as sinusitis. If you think your breath isn’t at its freshest, the best strategy is to have a few easy remedies at hand.
Here are four quick temporary fixes to deal with bad breath:
Swish your mouth with waterÂ
As simple as this may seem, it can make all the difference. Dry mouth is a common cause of bad breath because a parched mouth is a haven for bacteria. Simply swish some water around in your mouth to drive out the bacteria and leave your breath temporarily fresher. After doing this, be sure to drink water often.
Nibble on parsleyÂ
Parsley is known to be high in chlorophyll which has great germ-fighting benefits and is a widely used breath deodoriser. Even after you’ve had a slice of garlic-infused pizza and have to walk into a meeting, chewing on a sprig of parsley should be sufficient to temporarily freshen up the pungent smell.
Chew on orange or lemon rindÂ
Chewing on the rind of citrus fruits will immediately freshen your breath because the rind contains citric acid which eliminates bad breath by acting as a stimulus for your salivary glands.
Keep breath freshener on you
One of the most obvious pieces of advice is to carry a breath-freshening strip or sugar-free chewing gum. While it might not last as long as you need it to, these sorts of fresheners are brilliant temporary fixes.
Extra sources: Everyday Health, BreathMD
