There is nothing worse than opening your mouth to spark a conversation only to find that the person you’re addressing can smell your words before they hear them. Bad breath is a social no-no– It’s never a good look for your breath to be a weapon of mass destruction! Whether you have bouts with bad breath or someone you know does, here are some breath-saving tips from Dr. Singh, the founder and CEO of Arch Dental Associates.

Quick Fixes:

• Eat an orange! The citric acid stimulates the salivary glands and encourages the flow of breath-freshening saliva.
• Skip dessert and eat cheese. “Not only does the bacteria in cheese combat bad breath, you get a giant boost of calcium,” he said.
• If you forget your toothbrush … celery, carrots and apples can help. “(They) … contain fibers that get into the crevices between teeth and clean them by acting like miniature toothbrushes.”
• Go green for a pretty smile. A salad with Greek yogurt dressing are the best meal for your teeth. The repetitive chewing of the salad promotes saliva production, and the fibers in the leaves contribute to the cleansing of teeth. The yogurt dressing is the icing on the cake– it combats bad breath.

Long-Term Fixes:

• Eat Yogurt. According to Dr. Singh, studies have shown that the active bacteria in yogurt, specifically Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, may have a beneficial effect on odor-causing bacteria in the mouth (I love this! Yogurt is one of my favorite foods. I can eat it all day every day with no complaints!)
• Stop smoking or chewing tobacco-based products. Enough said.
• Watch what you eat. Coffee, onions and garlic all usually have a lingering fragrance, so think twice before ingesting them before a meeting, date or social gathering.
• Brush and Floss daily. Sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by the number of people who break this pattern on the regular. (You can tell by the look of their teeth and the smell of their breath! lol)! “Plaque and bacteria that accumulates on your teeth and under your gumline may be the underlying cause of odor,” Dr. Singh said. “Also, be sure to visit your dentist twice a year for a checkup and professional cleaning.”

Are you feeling Dr. Singh’s tips? What are some of your go-to tips for avoiding bad breath?