What can you do when someone offers you a mint with a knowing smirk? There is no other option but to accept it and politely swallow it along with your pride. To avoid such embarrassing situations it is very important to know some ways to fix bad breath. To be able to deal with the problem you need to know the reasons of bad breath and what can be done for its correction.

How to Fix Bad Breath

1.      Regularly Brush and Floss Your Teeth

Most of the times the plaque collected on teeth is responsible for bad breath. Many bacteria and food debris get stuck to this sticky buildup and lead to the foul smelling breath. To avoid plaque buildup and to get rid of bad breath, brush your teeth regularly. It is recommended to brush them at least twice a day and to floss at least once daily. If you get bad breath frequently, brush more often.

Be careful and use appropriate toothbrush and proper brushing technique. Over brushing can damage the teeth.

2.      Use a Mouth Wash

Rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash can help to kill the bad bacteria which cause foul smelling breath. Make sure to select the mouth wash which is capable to deal with the bacteria and doesn’t just mask the smell.

Another good option is to rinse your mouth with water after every meal. Take a mouthful of water and swish it around to wash away food debris and you will feel fresh afterwards.

3.      Keep Your Tongue Clean

A very good way on how to fix bad breath is to keep the tongue clean. A thick coating on tongue can harbor bacteria and lead to bad breath. This tongue coating is made up of food particles, dead cells and bacteria. To solve this problem clean your tongue with a tongue scrapper or you can just use your tooth brush for the purpose.

4.      Keep Yourself Well Hydrated

The simplest way to fix bad breath is to drink plenty of water. When you don’t drink enough water your mouth can get dry. This dryness is a favorable condition for bacteria since there is less moisture and saliva to wash them off. There are certain medical conditions causing dryness of mouth and it can be side effect of medications. Whatever the reason is, drinking enough water and keeping yourself well hydrated can be very helpful to fix bad breath.

It is also very important to drink water before and after any vigorous exercise. The rapid breathing during and after exertion can make your mouth dry and can lead to bad breath. The mouth can also get dry during sleep so make sure to drink a glass of water after you wake up. This will refresh you and will wash away the bacteria collected in your mouth during the night.

5.      Eat the Right Food

Certain foods can make your breath stink. A very effective way for how to fix bad breath is to avoid these foods. To keep bad breath at bay, avoid foods with high acid or fructose content.

Eating a balanced and healthy diet can help fix a bad breath. Choose the right foods and opt for healthy choices like whole grains, brown rice, fruits and vegetables (especially green leafy vegetables). Nuts, seeds and proteins are also great for your teeth and oral hygiene.

6.      Sugar Free Gum Can Help

If you need an instant fix for mouth odor, chew some sugar free gum. Chewing will increase the production of saliva and the bad smell producing bacteria will get washed away. Food articles stuck in teeth also get stuck to the gum and you can get rid of them easily. Many gums have pleasant flavors like mint and these can mask the smell of bad breath. Though it is not a substitute for proper brushing, which is recommended in this case, it can provide a readily available and fast alternative. 

7.      Cinnamon

Cinnamon is very effective to treat bad breath, it contains an essential oil cinnamic aldehyde which masks the bad odor and kills the harmful bacteria present in the mouth. Boil a cup of water with a teaspoon of cinnamon and some cardamom pods. You can add bay leaves if you like. Let it stay for some time and then strain the mixture. After it cools down use it as a mouth wash twice a day for fresh breath.

8.      Lemon Juice

How to fix bad breath? Rinsing the mouth with a mixture of lemon juice and water is a tried and tested remedy. Lemon juice is acidic in nature and can kill the germs. The fragrance of lemon is very refreshing as well. Just mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with some water and rinse your mouth with it. You can add a pinch of salt. This is an excellent way to fix bad breath and to prevent dry mouth.

9.      Cloves

To get rid of bad breath, chew a couple of cloves. To make a great mouth wash, add some clove powder in boiling water and let it steep. Then strain it and use as a mouth wash after it cools down.

10.      Baking Soda

To freshen up your mouth, rinse it with baking soda and water mixture. Just add a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water and your mouth wash is ready. You can also brush your teeth with baking soda. This will balance the oral pH and will help to kill the bacteria.

11.      Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is very effective to balance the pH levels in your mouth. It also improves digestion. Bad digestion can also cause bad breath. To solve the problem mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink before meals. You can use the mixture as a mouth wash as well.

12.      See the Dentist

• If your problem is severe and is not getting better it is a good idea to seek professional help. Do visit your dentist if your breath smells foul despite maintaining good oral hygiene. Bad breath can be a sign of gum disease which needs to be treated. 
• Another thing which can cause bad breath is tonsil stones. If you are experiencing foul breath and notice some white spots on your tonsils do visit your dentist immediately. These are made up of food debris, mucus and bacteria and need to be removed by a dentist.
• Also see your dentist if your mouth gets dry frequently despite drinking plenty of water.