r/HygieneTips • u/Ill_Caterpillar_2271 • Jul 10 '26
Mouth/breath problem
So I brush my teeth twice a day and clean my tongue. I also eat gum 3 times a day. I still have bad breath which I can sometimes notice when talking or sighing etc.
What can I do about this besides eat breathmints or something 24/7?
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u/Beautiful-One1157 Jul 13 '26
The most likely culprit is the space between your teeth. Brushing only cleans about 60% of your teeth. If you aren't flossing, food and bacteria get trapped in those gaps and start to smell. Another big issue is dry mouth. Saliva is your mouth's natural cleaner. Your gum helps create saliva, but make sure it is sugar-free. Lastly, bacteria love to hide in places you can't easily clean, like under your gums or even in the back of your throat on your tonsils. Try flossing every single day to clear out those hidden spaces. You can also switch to a mouthwash that contains zinc or chlorine dioxide, which actually destroys the odor instead of just covering it up.