How to Fix Bad Breath on the Spot

Bad breath can ruin a date, hamper an interview or make time with friends embarrassing. If you find yourself in a social situation and bad breath strikes, remember these tips to fix that bad breath on the spot.

Instructions

1. Chew gum or a mint. This may seem like a no-brainer, but keep mints or sugar free gum in your pocket or purse to nip bad breath in the bud.

2. Drink a glass of water with lemon. Rinsing the germs that cause bad breath from your mouth with a hefty glass of water helps reduce halitosis. The squeeze of lemon adds a little more freshening power to this hydrating solution. Swish some of the water between your teeth to dislodge food particles and more bacteria.

3. Chew your garnish. Restaurants will often garnish your plate with fresh parsley. The chlorophyll in the parsley helps diminish bad breath, so give it a chew to freshen bad breath after a meal.

4. Scrape your tongue. The tongue is one of the worst culprits in harboring bad breath bacteria. If you don't carry a tongue scraper in your purse, borrow a spoon from the table or kitchen and use it to scrape your tongue in the restroom. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after you scrape your tongue. This helps remove some of the odor causing bacteria on your tongue.

Tips & Warnings

• Bad breath symptoms are often the result of an underlying health condition. Talk with your doctor or dentist about attacking the problem at the source and improving your physical or dental health. Bad breath can rarely be a sign of a serious health problem, so if the issue persists, see your physician.