Taking a long road-trip or flight to your holiday destination? You’re packed, excited and looking forward to the break, but a couple of hours in, a blinding headache hits! If you suffer from headaches while travelling, we’ve got some tips to keep you pain-free! Continue reading “How to beat travel headaches”
Tag: dehydration
5 Steps To Beat bad breath!
Halitosis! That’s the medical term for bad breath – a nasty condition that affects 25% of all adults, 1 in every 4 of us. Think of three of your closest friends, and if none of them have bad breath, then maybe you’re the one. How can you tell? Instead of blowing into your cupped hands, (or in your partners face), lick the back of your hand, let it dry for a few seconds, and then smell the surface.
Bad breath is like any other body odour – it’s the result of bacteria living on or in the body giving off by-products. In your mouth, it’s a case of bacteria that normally live in there interacting with food particles to create smelly sulphur compounds. If you don’t clean properly, those bacteria build up, and next thing you know, you’re being left random gifts of breath mints on your desk every Monday.
So, here’s how to banish bad breath!
While popping a mint may mask things for a while, it won’t deal with the bacteria that are causing the problem. So, in addition to brushing your teeth regularly, you can tackle bad breath by doing the following:
Step 1: Brush your tongue
The rough surface of the tongue is home to a potentially foul-smelling combination of dead cells, food debris and bacteria – all of which contribute to bad breath.
Step 2: Stay hydrated
A dry mouth is a breeding ground for offensive-smelling bacteria.
Step 3: Avoid the over-powering ingredients
Foods like garlic and onion are well-known stinkers, so – if you do want to eat them, time it well. It can take about a day for these to fully leave your system.
Step 4: Choose bacteria busting foods
Green tea has anti-bacterial properties that knock out the stink, and cinnamon contains essential oils that kill many types of oral bacteria.
Step 5: Eat crisp fruits and vegetables
Celery and apples are good examples. Chewing these produces more saliva in your mouth, and the firm texture also helps scrub away bacteria.
If you do all that and your bad breath still persists, get hold of your doctor to make sure it isn’t a sign of something more serious, as certain chronic diseases can release chemicals into the body that result in bad breath. In most cases, taking simple steps to control the chemistry lab living inside your mouth will keep you smelling minty fresh, for most of the day anyway!