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This article was written by a guest contributor. For guest contribution guidelines, please visit this page. Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD the best dentist in Salem, MA, runs Coral Dental Care a successful dentistry. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental community with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.
Bad breath and yellow teeth are the two biggest turn-offs for anyone, and not just in terms of dating! In fact, research by Kelton Global showed that a smile holds the power to create a strong and positive first impression. So, we can only imagine how impactful fresh breath and a set of white teeth can be!
For healthier and whiter teeth combined with fresh breath, you need to maintain proper oral hygiene. However, some people may still have foul breath, despite all their best efforts. In that case, there might be underlying conditions contributing to the bad breath problem. Here are nine effective dental care tips to get stain-free teeth with fresh breath.
1. Change Your Toothbrush Frequently
This might come as a shock to you, but your toothbrush can be a culprit giving you bad breath and yellow teeth. You are one step closer to achieving good breath and whiter teeth if you get rid of your old worn-out toothbrush. In fact, you should change your brush every three months or at least as soon as you see the bristles bending down. Once the bristles wear down, the brush cannot fight bacteria, leaving your teeth and mouth vulnerable to stains and bad breath.
Related: The Best Electric Toothbrushes & Accessories For Happy Teeth
2. Don’t Forget Your Tongue
Forgetting the tongue while brushing is one of the most common mistakes people make. Brushing your tongue not only helps you get rid of bad breath but also kicks out the bacteria that cause discoloration.
To achieve a whiter smile and odor-free breath, take a soft bristle toothbrush and use long strokes to reach the back of the tongue. Make sure you rinse the brush with each stroke to prevent bacteria from depositing on your tongue.
3. Floss Each Day
Simply brushing your teeth won’t cut it. Follow with flossing to eliminate the sticky plaque build-up between the corners that causes bad breath and other dental issues. Brush twice and floss once daily. But make sure you don’t become too obsessive to the point you overdo things. Be gentle so you don’t wear out the enamel.
4. Pay Attention to the Gums
Bad breath does not always imply improper oral care. You might suffer from a gum disease like gingivitis or gum line cavity, where tooth decay by cavities is caused in the gum line, leading to exposed roots. Common gum conditions can accumulate bacteria between teeth pockets, causing bad breath.
5. Dilute Your Apple Cider Vinegar Mouth Rinse
Many people use apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash, calling it a natural and organic way to eliminate smelly mouth and tooth stains. However, ACV’s acidity can deteriorate your tooth enamel. So, before using it as a mouthwash, ensure you dilute it in water by mixing one teaspoon of ACV in a cup of water.
6. Quit Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
The one sure-shot thing to worsen your breath is smoking and consuming other tobacco products. Not only do these bad habits cause cancer, but they also destroy your gums, decay your teeth, stain them and cause bad breath. Moreover, smoking deteriorates your oral health and immune system, making your body more vulnerable to gum diseases and infections.
Related: Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening (What You Need To Know)
7. Replace After-meal Mints with Sugarless Gum
After-dinner mints contain a high amount of sugar, a magnet for bacteria. Bacteria use sugar to create enamel-destroying acid and give you bad breath. If you need some refreshments after meals, chew sugarless gum instead. Gum produces saliva that fights tooth decay-causing plaque acids and avoids bad breath.
8. Avoid Dry Mouth
As mentioned above, saliva is a natural way to keep bad breath at bay. So, ensure you avoid a dry mouth by drinking enough water. Avoid too much sugar. And if the room air needs to be moistened, try a humidifier.
9. Eat Proper Food
Food has a major impact on our breath and teeth, so eat wisely. Heavily seasoned food with garlic and onion will only worsen your breath. And the worst part about them is that brushing post-eating won’t help you because these substances get into your bloodstream and make their way into your lungs. So, every time you breathe, you will stink of garlic and onion. Avoid eating them before your important event or a date!
Moreover, eat raw and crunchy fruits and vegetables like carrots, apples, and nuts to remove stains and caries causing plaque.
Regular Dental Checkups are Equally Important
If you follow the above tips and still don’t see any improvement in your breath, it’s time to check with the dentist. Moreover, remember that these tips do not replace your regular dental checkups. Even if you follow proper oral hygiene, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year for a checkup and professional cleaning.
You might also be interested in: How To Whiten Your Teeth Without Damaging Them
Tips for Fresh Breath & White Teeth:
- Change Your Toothbrush Frequently
- Don’t Forget Your Tongue
- Floss Each Day
- Pay Attention to the Gums
- Dilute Your Apple Cider Vinegar Mouth Rinse
- Quit Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
- Replace After-meal Mints with Sugarless Gum
- Avoid Dry Mouth
- Eat Proper Food