Brushing up on oral hygiene
There are more bacteria in your mouth than people on the planet. So cleaning your teeth regularly is vital if you want to keep your breath fresh.
Causes of poor oral hygiene
'It must have been the curry I had last night' – there are endless excuses for bad breath and many of these, from the food we eat to the wines and beers some of us drink, play a big part. But the number one cause is poor oral hygiene.
The biggest culprits for causing bad breath are the billions of bacteria lurking in the crevices of our mouths and, especially, at the back of our tongues. As always, prevention is better than a cure.
The best line of defence
Regularly brushing your teeth, gums and your tongue with an anti-microbial toothpaste is the best line of defence. You'll have to push the brush quite far back in your mouth to reach the base of your tongue – make sure you don't choke. Although if you 'gag' a bit, you'll know you're hitting the right spot.
Swilling your mouth with an anti-microbial wash will also help, as will stopping or cutting back on smoking and drinking alcohol.
And don't forget to regularly replace your toothbrush – you need to do this at least every three months to ensure the bristles are in shape to pull away any plague and keep your gums in good shape. You should also make sure your toothbrush is dry when you use it – if it's wet or damp it's likely to be teaming with bacteria.
