Have you ever had a friend whisper something to you and you can’t even pay attention to what they’re saying because all you notice is his or her breath? It’s like your friend took a massive exhale mid-conversation and invaded your space with something foul. Embarrassing! There are a few tools beyond your classic toothpaste and toothbrush you can keep in your bathroom to help you from being that friend:

1. Brushee
2. Tongue Scraper
3. Mouthwash
4. Oral Irrigators
   

Keep these things at your disposal to prevent an offensive breath.

1. Your Trusty Brushee

A toothpaste, toothbrush, and floss are essential to good oral hygiene. A toothpaste and toothbrush are necessary to remove plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and kill bad breath germs. And as easy as it is to skip flossing, it’s a must. Flossing cleans between the teeth where a brush can’t reach. Your dentist may even recommend flossing before brushing because it loosens food particles.

With a Brushee—you have all three in one. In addition, a Brushee works as a pick. It’s perfect for on the go, so you can keep one in your bag in addition to the one in your bathroom. The toothpaste in a Brushee is special because you don’t even need water to use it.

Your Brushee is the perfect oral hygiene tool for those of us constantly on the go and fans of convenience.

2. Tongue Scraper

A tongue scraper might not be the first thing in your oral hygiene arsenal, but it’s definitely worth a buy. Brushing your tongue with your toothbrush can be quite uncomfortable, so it’s often skipped over.

To give your tongue some extra care, you can grab a tongue scraper at a drugstore near you for under ten dollars. They are generally small with a rounded edge and are usually made of plastic or metal.

In addition to being a bad breath killer, there are many benefits of using a tongue scraper:

• Food tastes better. If you scrape leftover matter off of your tongue, your tastebuds can have a better time accessing the richness of certain flavors—making your meal taste much better.
• Tongue looks better. In addition to blocking taste, buildup of matter on your tongue can make it look white and coated. Not cute!
• Remove bacteria. A 2005 study showed that tongue scraping twice a day lowered the content of two types of bacteria known for causing periodontal disease: Mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli. Killing these bacteria helped with better breath as well.
  

Tongue scraping is pretty straightforward, literally. With your tongue stuck out, put the rounded edge to the back of your tongue—but not too far back because this could trigger your gag reflex. Once the scraper is touching your tongue, slowly bring it to the front of your mouth. Repeat one more time, then wash your tongue scraper with warm water and soap.

3. Mouthwash

Mouthwash is a great sidekick for your normal oral hygiene routine—sidekick because mouthwash is not a replacement for brushing and flossing.

Mouthwash is great for kicking bad breath and certain fluoride rinses can help strengthen your teeth. Studies have proven that using mouthwash and brushing regularly has improved oral health compared to brushing alone. But, here are some things to think about before you start swishing.

• Don’t be afraid to dilute. Mouthwashes can vary in alcohol concentration, so some bottles may suggest you dilute it. But if the bottle doesn’t suggest it, diluting may inhibit the mouthwash’s bad breath-killing power.
• Know how much. Don’t use mouthwash with a heavy hand. The bottle will tell you how much product to use, so pour accordingly.
• Thirty seconds or more. Again, your bottle will help you with this one—most suggest thirty seconds to a minute.
• Swish with purpose. Swish with vigor to really fight the plaque buildup.
• Hold off for a bit. Wait at least 30 minutes after using mouthwash to eat, drink, or smoke.
  

There are tons of options on the market, so read the bottles to find out which mouthwash is right for you. Many brands have alcohol in them, but there are alcohol-free products. If you’re not sure which mouthwash is right for you, be sure to ask your dentist. Also, spit it out when you’re done, swallowing mouthwash can be toxic!

4. Oral Irrigator

An oral irrigator uses pressured water to clean between the teeth and near the gums. Oral irrigators serve a similar function as floss, but the pressured water is great for areas a piece of floss on your fingers may miss. They are especially helpful in the presence of certain orthodontic and dental work, such as braces, bridges, and crowns.

There are many benefits to adding an oral irrigator to your oral hygiene routine, such as:

• Fights gingivitis. Oral irrigators are proven to help fight gingivitis, the inflammation of the gums.
• Super Noticeable. After using an oral irrigator, you will notice quite a difference in your mouth right away. You will feel instantly refreshed with a clean breath and your teeth will have much less plaque than just brushing alone.
• Helps halitosis. Chronic, severe bad breath is known as halitosis, which is caused by food debris in the mouth. Having the extra strength of an oral irrigator can help clean debris from your mouth that brushing and flossing wouldn’t get.
  

You can purchase one from department stores or drugstores. Or, there are plenty of oral irrigators to choose from on Amazon.

While these four tools are great for boosting oral hygiene, it’s important to see your dentist regularly to know the best way to take care of your mouth.

What other products would your bathroom sink be incomplete without? How has using your Brushee improved your oral hygiene? Let us know in the comments below!