More than half of Americans today suffer from bad breath, according to the American Dental Association. Even if you don’t regularly eat garlic and onions (the most common offenders), you may still suffer from bad breath. Luckily, simple techniques can help you eliminate it.
Keep up Your Dental Hygiene
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day helps keep bad breath away. Brushing your teeth eliminates the food debris in and around your teeth that eventually turns into enamel-eating bacteria. We also recommend that you try flossing at the end of each day. This helps eliminate the debris that sits between your teeth that brushing doesn’t reach. Any food left behind creates a breeding ground for bacteria and causes bad breath.
Use a Germ-Killing Mouth Wash
A minty mouth seems like the answer to fresh breath, but it’s only a Band-Aid over the issue. Choose a mouthwash with antiseptic properties that kills the germs causing the bad breath. Otherwise, you simply mask the odor and may even make it worse.
Stop Smoking
Everyone knows smoking damages your lungs, but it also damages your oral health. Smoking dries out your mouth and leaves behind toxins in the mouth, throat, and lungs, which contribute, to bad breath. Because the toxins go beyond the mouth, smoker’s breath can even remain after brushing your teeth. Quitting the habit is the only way to eliminate smoker’s breath.
Avoid a Dry Mouth
Staying hydrated does more than help your physical health; it helps your oral health too. Water helps wash down any food particles or bacteria that reside in your mouth, reducing the risk of bad breath. Some patients suffer from a dry mouth as a side effect of the medication they take, no matter how much they drink. We encourage you to talk to your doctor about other medication options if this happens to you.
Increase Your Saliva Flow
Eating helps your saliva production. If you fast between meals, you may find that you have bad breath when you are hungry. Sidestep this issue by chewing on crunchy, healthy snacks in between meals, such as carrots, celery, or apples. The increased saliva production can help wash away the bacteria in your mouth, reducing the risk of bad breath.
Most importantly, keep your regular dental checkups and cleanings. Professional removal of the bacteria, plaque, and tartar in your mouth can help reduce the risk of chronic bad breath. Call River Valley Smile Center at 479-646-0706 for your appointment and let us help you put an end to your bad breath.
