Everyone knows the problem, and when they’re out in social situations, they certainly hope it doesn’t include them. Yes, bad breath. The involuntary recoil of people when someone else opens their mouth. The smell that can go from just about tolerable to “you need to see a dentist.”
At Modern Age Dentistry, we experience it a lot, usually many times a day. Bad breath doesn’t need to be a lifetime affliction. There are many ways to both address instances of bad breath and to prevent the problem from taking hold, and we gladly advise our patients on how to eliminate bad breath.
Often with our patients, we find that they don’t have good dental hygiene habits. You’d be surprised at how many people brush their teeth only once a day, and we’ve had a few on an even less regular schedule. Regular brushing is critical, and with your kids, you are teaching them a habit to last a lifetime.
Brushing removes plaque and prevents tartar buildup. Preventing these two forms of bacteria from growing in your mouth is an excellent start to eliminating bad breath. Using a fluoride-based toothpaste helps remove the daily accumulation of damage-causing substances, leaving your mouth clean and your breath fresh.
Often, bad breath can be a temporary problem of food particles stuck and, yes, rotting in gaps between your teeth. Brush after every meal. Flossing is essential, too, especially if you tend to get food caught around your gums and in difficult-to-reach parts of your mouth.
Rinsing with mouthwash also helps freshen your mouth and keeps your breath from smelling bad.
If you’ve tried improving your dental hygiene habits and still believe your breath is bad, it may be time to visit your dentist. We recommend a biannual visit schedule, but don’t wait so long if bad breath is a problem.
Often, bad breath is a symptom of something else happening in the mouth, and your dentist knows what to look for when you have the problem. At Modern Age Dentistry, we use the latest technology to diagnose dental health difficulties.
Gum disease is a bit of a slow burner, but it’s a significant source of trouble in the mouth, with long-term effects. Bacteria attack the soft flesh at the bottom of your teeth, essentially eating it away and undermining the tooth. The smell from their work is a big cause of bad breath, but early detection can help reverse the process.
Tooth decay, in the form of a cavity, causes bad breath. Sometimes, it is visible and we spot the problem immediately. Other times, a bit of detective work flushes out the problem. Clearing up the cavity may eliminate your bad breath.
A combination of good dental hygiene, or improving your existing practices, along with regular visits to the dentist helps fight any bad breath problem.
Along with regular brushing and visits to the dentist, there a few practical steps you can take in the fight against bad breath. Smoking, outside of its health effects, is a major source of bad breath. Tobacco lingers in your mouth, giving you smoker’s breath. Coffee-drinking can hang around on your breath, too, so consider cutting back.
Low saliva production dries out your mouth and causes bad breath. Try chewing gum — sugar-free, of course — to encourage more saliva to flow. Many people don’t drink enough water, and a glass or two can help moisten your mouth and take away that dryness associated with bad oral odors.
Follow the above steps in tackling your bad breath. And remember that you don’t need to be alone: Asking your dentist for help is a perfect first step.
Call us today at Modern Age Dentistry to schedule an appointment and let us help you restore your confidence in social settings.
