Helpful Tips To Eliminate Bad Breath Permanently

Bad breath can be embarrassing and affect your confidence. Bad breath can be caused due to many things, including food, dry mouth, tobacco products, and gum disease. Bad breath is usually temporary and can be eliminated by brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash. However, if you have bad breath that lasts longer than a few days, there could be a medical cause. If you have bad breath that is persistent, see your dentist to rule out any underlying medical causes. Here are a few tips to eliminate bad breath. 

Brushing your teeth

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once in order to keep your mouth clean and free of bad breath. Food particles that become stuck between the teeth can cause bacteria to grow. 

When you brush, make sure to gently scrub all of the surfaces of each tooth. Make sure you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and that you replace your toothbrush every three months because hard bristles can damage the enamel on your teeth. Also, focus on brushing your tongue to remove bacteria there since these can feed off of leftover food particles and cause bad breath.

Your dentist may also recommend using an antibacterial mouthwash to kill off bacteria that may have collected in your mouth during the day. This can help you to keep your breath fresh and kill the germs that cause tooth decay and gum disease. 

Flossing daily

When you floss every day, you can prevent bacteria from building up in your mouth and causing bad breath all day long. Make sure you reach every tooth and along the gum line to get the food particles out from between your teeth as well.

Avoiding dry mouth

Having a dry mouth means that your mouth isn’t producing enough saliva to wash away food particles and bacteria that are present on your teeth. Without saliva, your mouth is at risk for bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. This is because when you have a dry mouth, your gums can be more prone to bleeding when you brush or floss. Your teeth are also much more prone to decay, as they aren’t being cleansed by saliva. Additionally, your saliva acts as a natural defense mechanism against plaque, so without it, you’re at a higher risk of cavities. Since saliva also neutralizes acids in your mouth that can erode the teeth, it’s especially important to keep your mouth moist if you’re at high risk for erosion.

There are a variety of reasons that patients can experience dry mouth. It could be caused by certain medications, a side effect of a medical condition like diabetes, or a symptom of a much more serious condition, such as Sjögren’s syndrome. If you’re experiencing dry mouth, please speak to your dentist about treatments you can pursue to better manage the problem. For example, in some cases, simply changing medications could eliminate the issue. In other cases, a dentist may prescribe an oral rinse or special toothpaste for patients with severe dry mouth. Finally, if a patient has a chronic medical condition that causes dry mouth, the dentist may help the patient work with their physician to alleviate the symptoms of the condition and thus alleviate the dry mouth as well.

Adjusting your diet

Certain foods can contribute to bad breath. Coffee and tea are two drinks that you should avoid drinking during the day. Consuming these things on a regular basis dries out your mouth and can cause bad-smelling breath. Also, try limiting your intake of sugary candies and gum. They might feel good for your breath in the short run, but they will worsen the problem in the long run. Water is also a great way to combat dry mouth. Staying hydrated will also decrease the amount of bacteria living in your mouth. In turn, this will keep bad breath at bay.

Schedule regular dental checkups

At-home care isn’t the only thing that can help you get a better smile. You should also schedule regular dental checkups so that your dentist can check for any underlying oral health issues that may be contributing to bad breath. If caught early enough, gum disease may be treated before it has a chance to cause more widespread problems. 

Contact ROBERT A. OGIE DDS, at 2730 W 16th St, Yuma, AZ 85364, or call (928)7269262 to learn more about ways to eliminate bad breath.