If you’re suffering from chronic halitosis, you certainly aren’t alone. Over 80 million Americans also deal with this issue. Most of the time, it originates from bacteria of the gums and tongue. This can be frustrating to seal with and even embarrassing. Fortunately, there are ways that you can lessen and eliminate bad breath in its tracks. Your dentist shares the best ways that you can keep your smile smelling fresh.
Brush Twice Daily
By brushing your teeth at least twice daily for two minutes each time, you will remove the plaque and food debris that is a source of bad breath causing bacteria. If you want to take an extra step, brush another time with baking soda in order to reduce the acidity in the mouth. This will make it more difficult for bacteria in the mouth to grow.
Floss Every Day
Your toothbrush cannot reach every area of your mouth. That’s why it’s so important to floss in order to remove food debris and plaque from between the teeth and beneath the gumline. You should do this at least once a day.
Use Mouthwash
Mouthwash can help against bad breath because it washes away food debris and bacteria that you can’t reach with your toothbrush. Remember that if you have chronic halitosis, this will not get to the root of the issue, only mask your bad breath. Ask your dentist what kind of mouth rinse they recommend.
Clean Your Tongue
In order to remove food particles and residue that has built up between the taste buds and folds in the tongue, you have two different options. You could either brush your tongue with your toothbrush or invest in an inexpensive tool called a tongue scraper at your local drug store.
Drink Water
When your body isn’t producing enough saliva, you develop dry mouth. This provides the perfect environment for bacteria to breed. By drinking plenty of water throughout the day, you can prevent dry mouth and wash away food particles and bacteria that cause bad breath.
Have a Healthy Snack
Snacking on high-fiber fruits and vegetables helps to step up your saliva flow. This aids in washing away bacteria and food debris from your teeth, gums, and tongue. It can also help to alleviate bad breath that is caused by hunger.
Chew Gum
Having a piece of sugar-free gum helps to stimulate saliva flow in the mouth in order to wash away food debris and bacteria. Sucking on a piece of sugarless candy is also a great option for stepping up the flow of saliva.
Stop Smoking
Smoking tobacco products contributes to bad breath. This is because it tends to dry out your mouth and can lead to an unpleasant smell that sticks around even if you are brushing your teeth as often as you should be.
See Your Dentist
If you’re suffering from halitosis, this is definitely something to bring up to your dentist during your next checkup. They will be able to rule out serious underlying issues and give you the best advice on how to overcome bad breath.
You don’t need to keep living on with halitosis. By taking the steps listed above, you will be able to work towards fresh breath.
About the Practice
At Salmon Brook Dental, you have two experienced dentist providing state-of-the-art treatment to their patients in Granby, CT. Dr. Kenneth Endres has spent over 40 years working in a variety of different areas in the dental field. Dr. Gunveen Chawla attended dental school in India before moving to the United States and earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery at New York University. For more information on halitosis or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (860) 653-4551.