Basic steps to keep your breath fresh

(By Dr Venkateshwar Rao)
Bad breath is a sign of improper hygiene. No matter what how you dress or look, bad breath can tarnish your image. There are a number of causes, the most obvious being bad dental hygiene. Brush your teeth regularly. Bits of pieces of food get lodged between your teeth and begins to decompose, causing a bad odour. Brush your teeth carefully twice a day, but there are some other measures you can take to fight bad breath.
Brushing your tongue is probably the single most effective thing you can do. In studies, it has been proved that brushing the tongue alone is a better guard against bad breath than brushing only the teeth. Brushing both teeth and tongue can help reduce bad breath due to poor dental hygiene almost entirely. One need not scrub the tongue. Gently brush it with a soft-bristled brush to wash away the microscopic bits of food that become trapped in the tiny protuberances.
Flossing is also important for fresh breath. It liberates bits of food and gunk that could otherwise promote odor. Floss at least once a day, preferably just before brushing. If you use dentures, don’t forget to clean them regularly and thoroughly. Like natural teeth, they harbour food and bacteria that can cause bad breath.