5 Ways to Get Rid of Bad Breath and Maintain Your Oral Hygiene
Having bad breath is a distressing problem that up to 30% of Americans face. It can be embarrassing and bad for your self-esteem as it can be a socially unpleasant experience. The good news is that getting rid of bad breath isn’t impossible or complicated.
The reasons why you have bad breath are not mysterious. The common causes are poor oral health, dental cavities, gum disease, coated tongue, or consumption of certain foods and beverages. The odor itself is caused by the bacteria that live in your mouth and on the gum surface.
Bad breath could be more than just the food we eat, the lack of mouthwash and effective brushing, or regular visits to the dentist. Bad breath could be a factor of halitosis or gingivitis. These are two leading bacterial diseases that can cause bad breathe. If you expect these factors are at play, visit your dentist and seek further treatment.
The following are five easy ways to get rid of bad breath.
1. Brush and Floss
To reduce bad breath, you need to ensure you keep your teeth and mouth clean. The role of brushing and flossing twice a day should not be underestimated as it prevents buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Having floss picks for on the go is an effective tool for quickly neutralizing order causing foods that lay between your teeth. Additionally, brushing effectively (circular motion and brushing the back molars) will prove beneficial in your quest to crush bad breath. If you feel brushing and flossing twice a day is not enough, then you should do it more often. However, don’t over-brush as that might make your teeth vulnerable and cause them to wear down.
2. Avoid Foods That Cause Bad Breath
If you are concerned about your bad breath, you can also avoid foods that smell bad. These foods include onions and garlic, which are naturally smelly. Additionally, dairy products can also cause bad breath. Naturally occurring bacteria on your tongue feeds on the amino acids that are caused by milk and cheese. If you can’t avoid these foods, then make sure you rinse your mouth using a mouthwash or brush your teeth whenever you eat them. Another way is to avoid consuming them when you have to go out or meet friends.
3. Scrape Your Tongue
Dentists say that our tongues can be a host for smelly bacteria that cause bad breath. The best way to get rid of it is to gently scrape your tongue regularly with the back of your toothbrush. There is a layer of bacteria, usually white or yellow, which surfaces on your tongue and causes smelly breath. Modern day toothbrushes are equipped with tongue scrapers that help clean the tongues surface. Be sure to look for the tongue scrapper add on before you buy your next toothbrush.
4. Use Mouthwash
Mouthwash is the best way to get your whole mouth clean and fresh. Mouthwash is available in a variety of flavors with anti-bacterial properties that help your mouth fight unwanted bacteria and bad breath. You can use it any time, such as right before leaving home or meeting friends. Just swish your mouthwash after every meal or specifically after having tea or coffee to prevent bad breath. In addition to neutralizing bad breath, mouthwash can benefit from a dental standpoint as well. Some mouthwashes provide long lasting bacteria reduction and can help receding gums. Look for the ADA seal of acceptance before your next purchase.
5. Visit a Dentist Regularly
Oral hygiene is one of the key elements that help eliminate bad breath. A regular checkup with the dentist helps prevent plaque and tartar build-up that comes with the food you eat and causes bad breath. Dentists also examine oral hygiene and detect problems before they get worse. For bad breath, your dentist will recommend the right toothpaste, mouthwash, and flossing technique.
If you are looking for an affordable dentist near you, Summerlin Dental is a highly rated dental office. We offer professional oral healthcare services for all kinds of dental issues. We also provide financing and insurance options, which will help you get regular scaling and polishing, deep cleaning, and other treatments.
Visit our website today and take care of your oral hygiene: https://summerlindental.net/finance-insurance/.
