You know that healthy teeth and gums require regular brushing and flossing.1 But in a pinch, here are a few things you can try:
1. Eat crunchy vegetables
Gnaw on some fresh celery, carrots, broccoli or cucumbers. These foods can help scrape plaque from your teeth, removing some of the odor-causing bacteria.2
2. Nibble some cheese
Cheese is a saliva maker. The calcium in cheese, and the calcium and phosphates in milk and other dairy products, help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. They also help rebuild tooth enamel.3
3. Use mouthwash
If you happen to have some mouthwash handy, you can use it to help freshen your mouth. Just don't use it any longer than recommended because the chemicals may dry out your mouth, which can cause bad breath.4
4. Chew sugarless gum
Sugarless chewing gum can help in 2 ways: it can loosen food particles stuck between your teeth; and it helps produce more saliva, which is what your mouth uses to naturally wash away bacteria.5