Mistletoe season has arrived, so it’s absolutely crucial that your pout is smooch-worthy. Your lips are buffed, glossed, and puckered, but what about your breath? One in four people have bad breath, according to Colgate (and they should know, they make toothpaste). It’s caused by many various factors, from the foods we eat, to the drinks we consume, to our daily hygiene and general health. It happens to the best of us, but there is no reason to not take action. Dirty mouth? Let’s clean it up.
Chew the right thing
Okay, the obvious choice when you are less-than-kissable is to brush your teeth and tongue. (Yes, your tongue! It gets rid of odor-causing bacteria.) Mouthwash and sugar-free gum are another quick fix. Or, if you’re feeling organic, chew a couple fresh mint leaves.
Stay hydrated
Classroom breath, office breath, church breath: whatever you call it, we’ve all experienced that weird, stale breath that comes from not opening your mouth for a while. It’s actually caused by dehydration, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Peppermint tea spiked with anise or cinnamon is also recommended.
Gargle with hydrogen peroxide (yes, seriously)
We know this sounds awful, but gargling 50 percent hydrogen peroxide with 50 percent H20 for 5-30 seconds is an immediate and lasting cure for microbial bad breath. Also, almost every household is guaranteed to have a bottle. If not, every drugstore will, and the plus side to its medicinal taste is that it’s super cheap–$1 for an 8-ounce bottle! (That’s cheaper than gum these days!)
These tips will seriously do the trick. When implemented into your daily routine, they may even lessen that morning breath of yours!
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