Start the New Year with a fresh mouth

The New Year is almost here, and it's a perfect time for people to get a clean slate. While you may be thinking of shedding some pounds or eating healthier, why not decide that it is time to concentrate on your oral health? Kick off 2013 right by preventing bad breath, using oral health probiotics and taking extra time to make sure you eliminate the yucky bacteria that accumulates in your mouth. Here are a few tips to prevent oral health issues from ever ruining your day again.

Scrape your tongue
Scraping your tongue is just as important as brushing, flossing and rinsing. There is so much bacteria that thrives at the back of your throat and creates bad breath by feeding on the food you eat. Gross! This oral hygiene trick is so easy, but many people overlook it. You'll notice a difference in the overall feel of your mouth if you start doing this everyday. You can either purchase a tongue scraper, or use your toothbrush to clean your tongue thoroughly.

Alcohol free mouthwash
Are you using mouthwash with alcohol in it? Toss it - like right now! Alcohol free mouthwash cleans your whole mouth out without leaving it feeling dry. Traditional mouthwashes burn when you use them - which is the alcohol working - but just because it leaves your mouth feeling fresh doesn't mean that it is good for you. Dry mouth causes bad breath because the saliva in your mouth doesn't work well enough to rinse away bacteria that accumulates.

Floss everyday
Have you ever heard that flossing is better for your mouth than brushing itself? It gets rid of food particles that get caught in your teeth and cause bacteria to linger around. This will not only help you keep a fresh, clean smile, but it will also help you avoid embarrassing bad breath.

Hydrate
Drink water, lots and lots of water. Hydrating regularly will help wash unwanted bacteria away. Dry mouth is often caused by dehydration, which leads to bad breath. If you make sure that you stay hydrated, you'll avoid both of these annoying issues. Plus, staying hydrated offers endless other benefits to you and your body. Make sure that you are drinking eight to ten glasses of water each day, as well as a drink to rinse down every meal with a glass. Doing this will wash down any particles of food left in your mouth, and it will help get rid of acid and sugar that rots the teeth and stinks up your mouth!

Eat your fruits and veggies
Eating well is not only essential for a healthy body, it is just as important for a healthy mouth! The vitamins and minerals found in these snacks will help counteract bad bacteria in your mouth, or anaerobic oral bacteria. This bacteria sits on your tongue - which is why it's great to scrape your tongue - and bad breath is created as a waste product of these as they break down proteins. Eating fruits and veggies will help dislodge particles of food stuck in your teeth, and because they are high in fiber, they help with digestion. Having good digestion may get rid of bad breath because you will be less likely to experience acid reflux, which causes odor.

Kick bad habits
Are you a smoker? Do you chew tobacco? Are you frequently sipping on alcohol? Now is the best time to kick these bad habits! Reevaluate your daily habits that might be causing your teeth to turn yellow or your breath to get stinky. If you can't imagine going cold turkey, try to cut back and increase other healthy habits.