Though halitosis isn’t fatal, it can definitely hurt your personal and professional life. If you feel like you bad breath is affecting your ability to live life to the fullest, talk with your dentist. Most people suffer occasional bad breath, usually from something they eat or a head cold, but chronic halitosis may have other causes. Your dentist will find the root issue and determine the best way to eliminate your bad breath.

The following tidbits may provide useful suggestions as well:

Practice good hygiene
When you frequently brush and floss, you remove odor-causing bacteria from your mouth, preventing them from building up and creating bad breath.

Clean your whole mouth
Many people don’t realize that you should brush your tongue as well as teeth and gums. About half of the bacteria in your mouth live on the surface of your tongue, so you need to remove them to keep your breath smelling fresh.

Stay hydrated
Not only does H2O keep your body functioning properly, but it is also important for your mouth. Water rinses away plaque and food debris as well as keeping your mouth moist, which can reduce the occurrences of halitosis.

Take care of oral appliances
Retainers, aligners, and dentures can harbor bacteria and contribute to mouth odors if they aren’t cleaned. Wash these appliances regularly using a soft toothbrush and the cleaner recommended by your dental health provider.

Cut out tobacco use
On top of creating an increased risk of gum disease and oral cancer, smoking also dries out your mouth, which can make you prone to bad breath.