Morning breath is never fun. And if you share a bed, it’s even less fun for the person waking up next to you. We’ve all had an encounter with a close talker you suspect may have completely skipped brushing all together. But bad breath isn’t simple unpleasant. You can live a healthier life if you keep your mouth and teeth clean.

If you ask you friends, at least one of them will tell you that they rarely, if ever floss. To some, flossing is just an added step in the morning. Sure, it’s great if you have time and remember to floss, but it doesn’t really make much of a difference in the long run. Unfortunately, this is not the truth. First off, over 500 different kinds of bacteria take up residence between your teeth. Without daily flossing, bacteria accumulate and cause plaque buildup.

What’s more, flossing helps to stop gum inflammation, which leads to gum disease. Not only is it painful, but inflamed gums damage the overall health of the rest of the arteries. As a supplement to flossing, it is helpful to eat fibrous food everyday like apples that will act as natural floss. Chewing sugarless gum maintains the saliva flow in your mouth. You might not want to think about saliva, but dry mouth is a leading cause of gingivitis. So the more saliva (sorry, there’s that word again), the better.

Your tongue makes eating interesting and worthwhile. Let’s face it; we wouldn’t want to eat that pie or corn on the cob if it tasted like Styrofoam. But the tongue is the most neglected part of the dental hygiene routine. Brush or scrape the tongue with a specially designed tongue scraper. You’ll eliminate a whole lot of bacteria that contributes the bad breath.

Don’t just save smiling for the camera. Inspect your smile in the mirror. Do your teeth appear flat, and straight across? Well if they do, it’s not a good thing. Your teeth should resemble your fingernails in the way that they are higher in the middle than on the sides. If your teeth have a straight across look, it may be a sign that you are holding a lot of tension in your jaw. To release this tension, take a cork from a wine bottle and hold it lengthwise between the top and bottom front teeth. You may find headaches decrease in frequency with a regular “wine bottle cork” regimen.

Don’t forget the old essential – brushing. Ask your dentist to recommend a specific type of brush and bristle texture. Some are stiffer and others soft and easier on the mouth. Your dentist will know your problem areas and the best tool of the trade. Use fluoride toothpaste and keep up with regular visits to the dentist’s office.

All in all, you should be spending about 120 seconds in front of the bathroom sink. If you want to keep those pearly whites, take care of them. And if you don’t want to sleep alone, you’ll take care of that morning breath already!