8 Quick Tips For Improving Your Breath

Nobody likes having bad breath. Improving your breath is easy and can help keep your teeth and gums healthy at the same time. Here are 8 quick tips you can implement to improve your breath and make your mouth feel fresh, clean and healthy.

1.   Regular Brushing and Flossing.

The sticky buildup on your teeth is the result of plaque, which is the bacteria that causes bad breath. Food is also a major problem and when trapped between the teeth and gums, an increase in bacteria occurs. By brushing and flossing at least twice a day (ideally after meals), you will reduce plaque and bacteria, helping avoid bad breath.

2.   Clean your Tongue

Using a specially designed scraper or a toothbrush, gently brush off your tongue. The residue on your tongue hosts a lot of bacteria and is one of the major causes of bad breath. We recommend you clean your tongue immediately after brushing and flossing for a complete cleaning.

3.   Avoid Foods that Sour Your Breath

Foods such as onions and garlic cause you to have bad breath, and, often brushing doesn’t help. The substances in these foods travel to your lungs and bloodstream meaning the smell is harder to dissipate.

4.   Stop Smoking

Besides being one of the major causes in heart diseases and lung cancer, smoking also damages your gums and stains your teeth, resulting in bad breath. If you need help to stop smoking, consult your doctor to kick the habit. In the meantime you can apply over-the-counter nicotine patches and join a quit-smoking program – Your health will benefit!

5.   Rinse with Mouthwash

Mouthwashes not only help freshen your breath, but they add an extra level of protection by killing germs and bacteria that cause bad breath. Ideally you should choose an antiseptic one that kills germs effectively. If you need help to choose the best mouthwashes, consult with your dentist for a list of recommended products that help solve the problem. After using mouthwash, rinse thoroughly to remove food stuck between the teeth and kill bacteria around your mouth.

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, causes bad breath since bacteria gather at the base of the teeth causing odor. You can eliminate gum disease by having regular dental checkups and consulting with a dentist specialized in periodontics to help you treat it.

8.   Keep Your Mouth Moist

As mentioned above, tooth decay and bad breath form rapidly if left untreated. Saliva is the natural defense that helps combat bacteria. If you feel that your mouth is dry, water helps create saliva and keep your mouth moist. A good idea is to keep a humidifier around the house to moisten the air and chew sugar free hard candy.

Consult with your Dentist

If your bad breath persists, the cause may be attributed to severe gum disease or tooth decay. By using the above steps and doing regular dental check ups, your breath will be fresh, clean and free from harmful bacteria.

Contact us if you need more information on proper oral hygiene. Our team can educate patients of all ages in treating gum diseases and conditions that cause bad breath.

One Comment

  1. I never thought about saliva being my mouths natural defense against bacteria and bad breath. If anything, I thought the moisture is what helped the bacteria grow. That is why I try to use mouthwash at least once every day (I will check with my dentist to make sure I am using the right kind). Now I will have to add sugarless gum to my list of things to use.

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