5 Tips for Keeping Your Breath Fresh for Your Mistletoe Moment

Plenty of people enjoy kissing under the mistletoe, but bad breath could easily end up killing the mood. If you don’t want halitosis to ruin your mistletoe moment, you need to make sure that you’re going the extra mile when it comes to good oral hygiene and preventive care. Below are 5 tips that can help you keep your breath fresh during the holiday season.

1. Brush at Least Two Times a Day

Bad breath is often the result of plaque and food particles accumulating in your mouth. Thus, one of the most important steps you can take to maintain fresher breath is to brush your teeth twice a day. Each brushing session should last at least two minutes; make sure that you’re giving all of your teeth the thorough attention they deserve so that you can keep the inside of your mouth as clean as possible.

2. Floss Daily

It can be all too easy for bits of food to become trapped in the hard-to-reach spaces between your teeth. In order to remove these food particles before they can lead to bad breath, you should make flossing a daily habit. If you’re having trouble using traditional string floss, you may want to consider using a water flosser or an interdental brush instead.

3. Scrape Your Tongue

Bacteria and food particles can build up on your tongue just as easily as they build up on your teeth and gums. As such, taking the time to clean your tongue is essential for keeping bad breath at bay. To do so, it’s recommended that you invest in a tongue scraper, which you can pick up at the drugstore.

4. Carry Sugar-Free Mints

Sugar-free mints can give your breath a more pleasant scent, but their benefits don’t end there. They also encourage the mouth to produce more saliva, which can help rinse away the food particles contributing to your halitosis. On top of that, increased saliva levels help create an oral environment where harmful bacteria can’t thrive as easily, thus helping you maintain fresher breath while also lowering your risk for cavities.

5. Visit Your Dentist

If you’re having trouble getting your bad breath under control, it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment with your dentist. They can check your smile for oral health issues that could be to blame for your halitosis and let you know what steps can be taken to address them.

In short, bad breath can be embarrassing, but fortunately, it’s a problem that you can avoid as long as you take the right precautions and are proactive when it comes to caring for your smile.

About the Author

Dr. William J. Twohig is an experienced dentist in Weyauwega who has been taking care of smiles for more than 47 years. He takes a natural and holistic approach to dentistry, which means he strives to provide care that’s good for the whole body and not just the mouth. He is proud to offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental services. If you’re bothered by bad breath and think it might be linked to an oral health issue, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Twohig by visiting his website or calling (920) 867-3101.