How to Get Rid of Bad Breath

Having bad breath is literally the worst, especially if you're getting ready for a date, an important business meeting, or catching up with friends. No one wants to be around someone who can't stand the smell of their breath, not to mention it's a major turn off. And if you constantly have bad breath and don't know how to get rid of it, you're not alone here.

We've figured out ways on how to get rid of bad breath and manage a clean mouth with the simplest steps. And no, none of these steps involve taking a trip to the dentist, unless there's a serious medical reason for your bad breath. However, yes, there are very easy ways to maintain fresh breath and they're all home remedies! So, if you have a date coming up in an hour or so and you're figuring out how to lose the bad breath, consider any of these tips for yourself.

Brush your teeth twice a day.

If you haven't been doing this already, brush your teeth at least twice a day! This is crucial with not only getting rid of bad breath, but keeping your teeth clean from any plaque, preventing tooth decay, removing any food particles, and overall maintaining a fresh mouth.

Brush your teeth once in the morning and once a night, that's it. But if you're serious about always having fresh-smelling breath, then brush your teeth three times a day—once in the afternoon if possible. While you're keeping your gums and teeth healthy and clean, it'll show from your fresh breath!

Eat a slice of lemon or orange.

Here's a unique way on how to get rid of bad breath: eat a slice of lemon or orange. Believe it or not, the citric acids from either the lemon or the orange triggers your salivary glands and fight bad breath, leaving your breath smelling fresh and citrusy.

Instead of a mint, consider slicing a piece of lemon/orange, and chew on it after meals, before going out with friends, after drinking coffee, etc. It's long-lasting compared to mints and the flavors taste much better, too.

Always use mouthwash after brushing.

Most people don't take mouthwash for granted. They just brush their teeth, floss if they feel like it, and that's it. However, mouthwash is just as important as brushing your teeth. Why? Aside from helping you achieve the best smelling breath, mouthwash fights plaque that can possibly build up in your teeth and control tooth decay.

In order to get rid of bad breath, rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash after brushing your teeth. And, yes, this means twice a day if you really want the best for your mouth. Trust me, you'll see a difference in your teeth after two to four weeks of rinsing with mouthwash after brushing.

Floss after every meal.

Just like mouthwash, flossing plays a huge role in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Flossing can get rid of bad breath as well as food particles stuck in between your teeth, help prevent tooth decay, and even gum disease. Many people don't floss and I'm talking about many people. It's super important to floss after every meal and brushing your teeth.

So, after eating, try flossing and getting out any food residue stuck between your teeth. You can either use a stick floss, a regular string floss, or even a water flosser. Get great smelling breath easily by flossing after every meal!

Avoid strong smelling foods.

Among the best tips to get rid of bad breath is avoid eating any smelly foods. Foods that involve loads of garlic, onions, eggs, smelly veggies, etc. can easily make your breath reek and it's not the best choice to eat right before heading out with friends or going on your date. Even if you're in love with garlic and enjoy putting it in almost anything you eat... avoid it. It won't do any good to your breath and it'll be very difficult to get rid of the smell.

Instead, eat foods that fight bad breath and don't leave behind a horrible smell in your mouth. Foods such as apples, yogurt, parsley, fresh salads, and other foods don't give off a very strong smell. If you want a bite before your meeting, consider any of these options.

Try to quit smoking.

Smoking can really take a toll on your breath from the harsh smell of tobacco and nicotine. And if your habit leads you to smoking about a pack of cigarettes a day, your breath won't be smelling the best at all because you're not giving it a break. Constantly smoking can leave behind yellowing teeth, stained tongue, bad breath, and much more that can affect your body.

To maintain fresh breath, try to quit smoking. Yes, it's not an easy process, but at least trying can get your foot in the door. Consider testing out nicotine patches or whenever a craving kicks in, switch cigarettes to gum. If you manage to surpass your nicotine cravings with these alternatives, then you'll achieve great smelling breath in no time.

Chew gum instead of eating mints.

Among the ways to get rid of bad breath is chewing gum instead of eating mints. In fact, no matter how strong the mint is, it won't last as long as chewing a minty gum. A mint can last about five minutes in your mouth before swallowing it. And the flavor won't linger as long as you expect it, because you've already swallowed the mint.

Instead, gum is the best way to receive nice-smelling breath. You can be chewing on a minty gum for an hour or possibly more and the flavor will linger in your mouth much longer than a piece of mint. So, after eating a meal, chew a piece of gum to hide your breath with a fruity or minty scent.

Clean the surface of your tongue.

Did you know that your tongue is usually the main source of your bad breath? It definitely is, because the coating that normally forms on your tongue can bring smelly bacteria. Either after drinking coffee/tea and eating meals, the bacteria stays on your tongue and if your tongue isn't cleaned after indulging on food, the bacteria can start to smell.

The best way to get rid of bad breath is to clean and scrape the surface of your tongue. Get yourself a toothbrush that features a tongue scraper on the back and always clean your tongue in the midst of brushing your teeth. This will remove the smelly coating on your tongue and leave behind a fresh and healthy tongue!

Avoid too much coffee and alcohol.

How many of you suffer with bad breath after drinking a large cup of coffee in the mornings? I'm sure many of us do, and I know it's hard to avoid drinking coffee in the mornings... because we literally need it to stay awake throughout the day. However, try to drink at least one to two cups a day—don't over do it. I'm positive that two cups can get you through the day and if you're the type who drinks three to four, cut it down. Drinking too much coffee can lead to bad breath and overall isn't good for your health.

This goes for alcohol, as well. Sure, enjoy a glass or two of your favorite liquor or spirit, but don't constantly drink alcohol. It won't do any good to your breath and health, and if you find it difficult to cut back on alcohol, ask for help from your doctor.

Drink lots of water.

Lastly, and a major one among the ways to get rid of bad breath, is the importance of H2O! Yes, in fact, drinking water can be one of the best solutions to achieve great smelling breath. I know water has no flavor or scent, so how can it possibly make your breath smell good? Water hydrates your mouth and prevents a dry mouth. Since having a dry mouth can be another reason for bad breath, water can add moisture and wash out your mouth.

So, after every meal and in the mornings, drink a tall glass of water and swish it around your mouth. This will not only prevent your mouth from drying up, but it can help your bad breath in the morning.