Goodbye Halitosis

Holiday season is here, which means some spiked eggnog might lead you under some mistletoe if you’re lucky. The quickest way to find yourself standing there by your damn self is by having funky breath. That’s right folks, this post is about keeping the mouthpiece fresh, especially during this time of close contact. Think about it, not only will you be greeting relatives, but that good snuggle weather is upon us, and again — you gets none if your breath is foul. Here are some tips to keep people wanting to talk to you during the winter. Feel free to make them lifestyle habits:

- BRUSH at least twice a day. Get in the back of your mouth, top and bottom. Please don’t forget the tongue and the roof of your mouth. Bacteria will live, and die depending on how hot your mouth is, there.

- FLOSS. Seriously,  flossing is the most important thing you can do to keep a healthy mouth situation besides brushing. It’s important to get rid of the bits of turducken meat you might’ve eaten at Grandmommy’s. Not only can leftover food particles make your mouth smell like ugh, but it can cause gingivitis, which can lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss. Would you want to kiss a toothless person? We thought so. We recommend Plackers Flosspicks. They’re an easy glide floss that won’t make it feel like you’re sawing through your teeth. Keep in your purse or pocket along with your…

- BREATH MINTS. Gum is great, but if you’re looking for insta-fresh, a breath mint will be your best bet. Gum takes a few chews to activate and if chewed too long can become stale, defeating the purpose. Besides, there’s something classy and imperceptible about a mint over gum. We recommend DentaClean Herbal Breath Mints.

- BLACK TEA. Gentleman, want to impress your lady friend and avoid puppy dog breath in the morning? Make sure to keep some black tea in the cupboards, and fix her some in the morning. Studies have found that black tea not only improves cardiovascular health, but also kills the bacteria in the mouth that causes stinky breath. You can try peppermint and green tea, as well.

- SMILE. True enough, a smile won’t kill halitosis, but it will kill the notion that you aren’t confident about your oral situation. Besides, it’s the holidays, there’s plenty to be grateful for and a smile from me and you makes the world a better place.

BONUS: Whitening products. I think we can all agree white is alright when it comes to teeth. Invest in more than just sparkly looking toothpaste and buy whitening strips. We also like Listerine whitening pre-wash for before you brush, and Arm & Hammer Whitening Booster to put on top of your toothpaste while you brush. Do yourself one better and the next time you go get your teeth cleaned (because we know all of you are making efforts to go at least once a year), ask your dentist to make custom molds of your teeth so you can have your very own set of whitening trays. The trays can last you for years if you take care of them, and it will be easier to maintain, instead of create, a pearly white smile. Healthy diet and plenty of water are also essential to oral health.

© 2009 – 2010, Keisha Jenkins. All rights reserved by Sub Urban Media Group.