There’s no doubt that bad breath, or halitosis, can be embarrassing. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to get bad breath under control. Banish bad breath once and for all! Here at Rock Dental – we can help you!
The Key to Fresher Breath
To ensure that your breath is fresh, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene.
If you don’t brush and floss daily, little bits of food can become trapped in your mouth, attracting bacteria that lead to bad breath. Also, food particles which collect between the teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue, can decay, causing a foul odour.
To prevent this problem, Rock Dental recommends brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Brush gently and pay special attention to the gum line. Also, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between your teeth at least once daily. Brushing your tongue and roof of your mouth can also help remove odour-causing bacteria and debris. Mouthwashes just temporarily mask a bad odour. They don’t have a long-lasting effect. If you constantly need to use mouthwash or breath freshener because of bad breath, talk with your dentist.
More Problems and Solutions to Banish Bad Breath
Several other factors can play a role in bad breath. These include:
Gum disease
Bad breath that doesn’t go away can be an early warning sign of gum disease. In addition to brushing and flossing, it’s important to have regular dental checkups and professional cleanings.
Foods
Certain foods can affect your breath for up to three days after eating them, including onions, garlic, and coffee. Once food absorption into the blood takes place, it is carried to the lungs. There it can give the exhaled air a bad odour. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash can mask the problem. But the improvement is short-lived, and the problem will keep coming back until your body eliminates the food. For a long-term solution, you might need to adjust your diet.
Dry mouth
Saliva helps prevent bad breath by washing away food particles and bacteria. When you sleep, saliva production slows down. This causes many people to wake up with bad breath. Dry mouth during the day can be caused by salivary gland problems, breathing through your mouth, or taking certain medications. Depending on the cause, your dentist might recommend drinking more fluids, chewing sugarless gum to stimulate saliva flow, or using artificial saliva.
Smoking
This is another common cause of bad breath—and one more good reason not to smoke. If you’re a smoker, ask your dentist or doctor for help with quitting.
Medical conditions
Bad breath can also be a sign of another medical disorder, such as chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, digestive problems, and liver or kidney disease. If your mouth is healthy, your dentist may refer you for a medical evaluation.
Contact Rock Dental to banish bad breath
If bad breath is a problem for you, contact us for a full assessment. We will diagnose the cause and help you find a solution. Banish bad breath for good!
