Chew Gum After Every Meal
While some people would frown upon chewing gum, it has advantages in preventing bad breath. Dentists recommend skipping after-meal mints and chewing sugarless gum instead. A word to the wise, however, gum wouldn’t prevent halitosis, but it will help out a lot. The mechanical process of chewing gum will likely dislodge stuck food particles and help dispose of them. Chewing will also activate the salivary glands to produce more saliva, which is essential to keeping the mouth environs safe and free from bacteria. Saliva will also dispose of the food particles and serve s a buffer against bacteria thriving in the mouth.
Doctors recommend looking for chewing gum that has Xylitol as an active ingredient. Xylitol is an alternative to sugar and helps reduce pathogenic bacteria, heightening dental cavities and tooth decay risk. It does taste sweet, but Xylitol doesn’t change to sugar which could harm the gums and teeth in the long run. In addition, research has shown that the ingredient can quickly reduce decay-causing bacteria.
