Mayo Clinic weighs in on bad breath prevention in monthly health letter

There are plenty of ways to eliminate bad breath, the most effective being specialty breath fresheners. These products contain all-natural ingredients and avoid alcohol, detergents and harsh chemicals, allowing them to wash away halitosis without irritating your gums or throat.

But how do you prevent oral odor in the first place? Well, according to the Mayo Clinic's latest Health Letter, there are a few easy ways to make it harder for bacteria to take hold on your tongue. (Spoiler: Specialty breath fresheners and good dental care practices take the cake.)

Good preventative care

The Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter containing practical information on medical subjects and everyday health topics. It's no wonder that bad breath came up this month - after all, something like half of all Americans have oral odor at any given time.

In the publication, the Clinic listed several simple preventative measures you can take. Some were super-simple, like sipping water throughout the day. This wets the tongue and keeps the saliva flowing freely, which in turn makes your oral environment harder for stink-causing microbes to colonize. Another easy tip is to avoid coffee, alcohol, garlic and other odiferous foods and beverages.

Then there were the typical dental care recommendations. These included brushing after meals, flossing daily and cleaning dentures every night.

And the specialty methods?

Last but not least, you can use the newest, most advanced breath fresheners: specialty products. The Mayo Clinic recommended trying an alcohol-free mouthwash and a specialty tongue scraper to cleanse the palate of bacteria, food particles and dead cells.

It might sound a little unappetizing, but trust us: It works.