Mouth odour is an embarrassing condition caused by a
group of anaerobic, sulfur-producing bacteria that
breeds beneath the surface of the tongue and often in
the throat and tonsil area. These anaerobic bacteria assist
in digestion by breaking down proteins into amino acids,
and in the process they excrete waste as odorous and
bad tasting compounds that cause bad breath.

Jumia Travel shares 5 ways you can solve and get rid of
the issue of mouth odour. You should note that this
condition is an easy one to solve, and nothing to worry
about. You only need to be dutiful and dedicated about
it.

STIMULATE YOUR SALIVARY FLOW

A dry mouth gives the perfect environment for the group
of anaerobic bacteria that causes mouth odour. Avoiding
a dry mouth by stimulating the flow of saliva in your
mouth will help you get rid of mouth odour.

This can be
done by chewing gum, lozenges or mints that are sugar
free.

The ones that contain Xylitol, a non-sucrose
sweeter, are best because they help you avoid cavities.
You can also have a bottle of water handy to drink from
time to time throughout the day, to keep your mouth
from getting dry.

GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE

Brush your teeth at least twice a day (in the morning
when you wake and at night before you sleep). It is very
important you don’t neglect to brush your teeth at night
because while you sleep little or no saliva is being
produced, so anaerobic bacteria have the perfect
environment to thrive throughout your eight hours of
sleep. Brushing your mouth before you sleep will help
remove any food and plaque in your mouth that the
anaerobic bacteria can feed on while you’re asleep.
Fluoride toothpastes should be used, alongside brushes
with soft (but not too soft) bristles (so you don’t damage
your enamel and gum). You should also try to brush
within the range of 1 – 2 minutes.

Mouthwashes (alcohol free) and dental flosses can also
be used after meals, especially after meals that contain
onion and garlic, dairy foods, meat, fish, refined and
processed sugars, coffee and juices, and heavily
processed foods that contain refined carbohydrates like
cookies, cakes, sweets and ice cream which provide the
ideal breeding environment for these bacteria.

FIBROUS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Remember the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor
away”. Well in this case, we’ll modify it to, “An apple a day
keeps the bad breath away”. Eating fibrous fruits and
vegetables like apples, bananas, oranges, potatoes etc.,
help moisten the mouth and remove the bacteria in the
mouth, thus helping you get rid of mouth odour.

CLEAN YOUR TONGUE (INCLUDING THE BACK OF
YOUR TONGUE)

Over time, there is a coating that forms on your tongue
that becomes the host for many smelly bacteria. It is thus
important for you to remember to gently brush your
tongue, including the back of your tongue, with your
toothbrush.

If your brush is too big to reach the back of your tongue,
you can get a smaller brush or something called a
‘scrapper’ to help you reach back there and properly
clean the surface of your tongue, removing bacteria,
food debris and dead cells that you might not have been
able to remove by only brushing your teeth.

Smellymouth, this is for you