Are you troubled by halitosis (otherwise known as bad breath)? Although halitosis can be caused by any number of things, the number one risk factor for bad breath is, above all else, poor oral hygiene. If you really want kissable or just plain old healthy and tolerable breath, you will definitely want to invest in a good oral health schedule and good oral health tools to get you back on the road to sweet, healthy breath.

What Constitutes a Good Oral Hygiene Schedule?

Good oral health is one of those things that can be a little relative. That is, some people may think that brushing their teeth for twenty seconds each time at the beginning and at the end of day is good enough. Well, relatively speaking, this routine is better than doing nothing at all. But in truth, this routine is not nearly enough and does not go far enough in promoting good teeth health. A good oral hygiene schedule looks something like this: wake up and brush your teeth for a good two minutes, making sure to brush below the gum line. This is optional, but you can use a mouthwash for an extra clean feeling. Ideally, you will want to brush after each meal. If this is not possible, chew sugarless plaque-removing gum to improve salivation and get rid of food debris and surface plaque. At night, brush your teeth once more for a full two minutes (more if your teeth do not feel absolutely clean by the end of the two minutes).

Never Skimp Out on Flossing

Floss thoroughly. Do not skimp on the flossing. Flossing is absolutely key in the removal of food debris and particles that are caught between teeth and below the gum line-areas that your toothbrush simply cannot reach. If you are feeling lazy about having to floss, just remember that anything that stays stuck between your teeth or under your gums will simply rot and produce plaque and bad breath.

Scrape Your Way to a Cleaner Tongue

What is one of the best things you can do to make sure that you do not suffer from halitosis? Why, scrape your tongue clean of course. While this may still sound a bit unsettling to some Americans, the practice of tongue scraping is actually quite common around the world. You will find that it is almost universally used. A tongue scraper is metallic, U-shaped device that you hold with both hands and then drag along the edge of your tongue. Of course, make sure to keep your tongue scraper nice and clean for each use. The last thing you want to do is drag old gunk and bacteria across your tongue.

Make Your Own Easy Mouthwash

If you find the commercial mouthwash brands too intense or drying, consider making your own easy mouthwash. One of the easiest and most effective breath-freshening concoctions that you can make includes mixing a few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of water. Mix them thoroughly and rinse. Make sure not to accidentally swallow any.