It can affect you at school, at home and even in the office: bad breath follows us everywhere and sometimes minty gum just doesn’t do the trick. No one likes wondering if their breath smells and, oftentimes, we can’t even tell. But, if you’re one of the many people that suffers from chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis, there’s a few habits you can adjust to make your breath fresher and more pleasant for everyone.
- The most obvious way to improve your bad breath is to regularly brush and floss your teeth. Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once is recommended for everyone, but for those who experience frequent bad breath, flossing and brushing more often, even after every meal, may be necessary. Following up with a mouthwash can also help keep germs that cause bad breath at bay.
- There’s a coating on your tongue that can hold onto tough, bad-smelling bacteria. By regularly scraping your tongue, you can prevent these bacteria from building up and causing bad breath. To do so, gently rub your tongue with the bristles of your toothbrush. There’s also tongue scrapers for those who find their brushes to be too big to fit all the way to the back of their mouth.
- Smoking causes many side effects, one of which is bad breath. Kicking your smoking habit can not only improve your breath, but also your overall oral health. Smoking also increases the risk of oral cancer, which can cause incredible amounts of damage to teeth, even causing you to lose most of them.
- Watch out for gum disease and signs of gum distress to improve your breath. When gums are irritated or bleeding, bacteria accumulate in pockets at the base of teeth, causing bad breath to set it. If gum problems are ignored for too long, periodontal disease can occur and cause not only worse breath, but permanent tooth loss.
- One of the main causes of bad breath is chronic dry mouth. Saliva is your body’s natural way of rinsing and disinfecting your mouth. Lack of saliva promotes tooth decay and bacteria in the mouth, creating the perfect recipe for bad breath. Try drinking plenty of water throughout the day and chewing gum to promote saliva production.
If you suffer from bad breath and are having trouble getting it under control, Greenspoint Dental can help get your oral health back to normal. Contact us today to make an appointment.