These days, face masks are necessary to protect yourself and others during the coronavirus pandemic. However, upon strapping on a mask, you might have noticed a not-so-pleasant smell. Is it the material of the mask? Some sort of adhesive or lining? 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but… it’s not the mask that smells. It’s actually your breath. And sure, you can suck on a breath mint, but that’s only masking other problems. 

It’s estimated that halitosis is suffered by 25 percent of the population. And since we’re now required to wear a mask, those one in four people are now much more conscious of just how bad their breath can be. And while halitosis is a common symptom of underlying health issues – such as medical infections, diabetes, kidney failure or liver malfunction – it’s mostly due to poor oral hygiene. 

Instead of chewing sugarless gum beneath your mask while running errands, address the root cause and maintain better oral hygiene. Discover how to stop bad breath underneath your mask — once and for all! — with these oral hygiene habits and handy tips. 

Brush and Floss Properly

BLU Hands-Free Toothbrush & Whitening Device

The first step to better oral hygiene is to maintain a brushing and flossing routine each day.   

And as part of your oral hygiene arsenal, the GO SMILE BLU, a blue light toothbrush, makes a wonderful addition. Blue light technology can not only leave you with fresher breath, but it can also kill harmful and even antibiotic-resistant bacteria. And since there’s a direct connection between gum disease and heart disease, which can cause a heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular issues, ridding your mouth of this harmful bacteria is crucial.

Of course, the right toothpaste helps freshen breath, too. Take advantage of a luxury mint toothpaste, which offers a tingling and invigorating sensation that keeps your teeth white while also nourishing them with vitamins A, C and E. 

Scrape and Brush Your Tongue

As you brush your teeth, don’t forget to brush the tongue and gums, too. With all its papillae nodules, the tongue is notorious for capturing food particles and nasty bacteria that cause odor and bad breath. 

Tongue scrapers work quite nicely, too, especially when your toothbrush head is quite large. A tongue scraper can apply pressure in the far back reaches of the tongue, all the way to the tip, removing bacteria and even dead cells. 

Stop Smoking

We’re already well aware that smoking and the use of other tobacco products can cause cancer and damage your gums. But it can also stain your teeth and cause bad breath as well. There’s no better time than now to reexamine your lifestyle choices and break your smoking habit. Seek out nicotine patches or gum to help fight cravings and eliminate this bad breath-causing culprit once and for all.

Stay Hydrated to Avoid Dry Mouth

One of the easiest ways to stop bad breath is to keep your mouth and tongue moist. When you have a dry mouth and a decrease in saliva, it can cause some serious odors. Plus, staying hydrated throughout the day has many benefits. And it’s especially important when it comes to your oral hygiene. 

Avoid Certain Food and Drinks

Certain foods, such as garlic, onions and cheese, can make a meal scrumptious and delicious. But with them, they bring odors – many of which cannot simply be brushed away or disguised with mint or gum. Instead, they end up in your bloodstream and lungs, expunging with each outward breath. The best way to stop this type of bad breath is to avoid them whenever possible. 

Even your morning coffee and red wine can linger with you. But for those who can’t go without, use an on-the-go tooth stain eraser to prevent stains and stop bad breath with a fresh, minty flavor.

Eliminate Mask Breath and Bad Breath Forever

Face masks have made many of us aware of just how bad our breath can be. The good news is that now you know and can take the necessary steps to eliminate and stop bad breath. Not to mention, taking proper care of your mouth and practicing better oral hygiene habits can boost the immune system, which we can all benefit from right now. 

Mask or no mask, practicing good oral hygiene is the way to a cleaner mouth and odorless breath. And once the long-awaited day comes when you safely retire your face mask, you can rest assured your breath won’t be offensive to others. 

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