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Do you suffer from bad breath? Are you looking for ways to eliminate it? Here are a few helpful tips and tricks. 

Brush your teeth twice daily

Brushing your teeth twice a day will help remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth and prevent bad breath caused by food particles between teeth. Choose a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste that contains fluoride to brush your teeth. 

Floss at least once a day

You might not be flossing often enough! Many people only floss when they remember or are reminded by someone else. If you forget to do it regularly, start setting a reminder in your phone to floss as often as you brush. Studies show that people who floss daily have 50% fewer cavities. And getting rid of bad breath is easy with these tips.

Regular flossing also helps remove plaque from between teeth that you might not be able to reach when brushing alone. Plaque buildup may lead to tooth decay and gum disease if left untreated.

In addition to regular brushing and flossing, we recommend mouth rinses and tongue scrapers to help you achieve fresh breath and clean teeth. Mouth rinses temporarily eliminate bacteria in your mouth. Tongue scrapers are an easy way to remove odor-causing residue from the tongue’s surface.

Brush your tongue

Your tongue can be one of the main sources of bad breath, and brushing it can help eliminate it. When you brush your teeth, you can miss some areas of your mouth, including your tongue, so it is important to brush your tongue along with the rest of your mouth. Look for a tongue scraper that is firm enough to scrape off the plaque without hurting the tongue. A soft-bristled cleaner should be used for routine cleaning of the tongue.

The ADA says you should rinse with a mouthwash that has an antibacterial agent in it to kill bacteria and reduce bad breath. Mouthwashes with alcohol in them can dry out the mouth and contribute to dry mouth, which can contribute to bad breath. 

Clean dentures or dental appliances

One of the biggest causes of bad breath is food particles that get stuck in your dentures or dental appliances and are not being properly removed when you brush. These are then left in your mouth, producing bacteria that cause the nasty odor. If you are having problems with bad breath caused by your appliance, visit us to have them adjusted.

If you start to notice problems with your denture appliance, make sure to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to prevent any further complications.

Avoid dry mouth

Saliva helps wash away food particles and bacteria from your mouth, helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. When your mouth is dry, it can become an ideal environment for bacteria and plaque to grow, causing bad breath. A dry mouth may be a temporary side effect of certain medications, but it may also be caused by more serious conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and anemia. Talk to your dentist if you are concerned about dry mouth symptoms, as they will be able to help determine the cause of your dry mouth and recommend treatment options to help improve it.

If you suffer from dry mouth, try sipping water or chewing sugar-free gum throughout the day to help stimulate saliva production. You may also want to use toothpaste specially formulated for dry mouth, which adds additional ingredients that can help prevent cavities by balancing out the pH in your mouth. If everyday products aren’t working to treat your dry mouth, your dentist may recommend prescription mouthwashes and/or oral rinses. Your dentist may also recommend that you consider a fluoride treatment to strengthen the enamel of your teeth and help protect against decay.

Adjust your diet

Certain foods can promote bad breath; sugary and starchy foods cling to the teeth, producing plaque that harbors odor-causing bacteria on the tongue, gums, teeth, and gums. Starchy foods such as potato chips, bread, pasta, and crackers produce acids that cause tooth decay. Try to stick to a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Limit foods and beverages high in sugar content, such as cookies, candy, cakes, soda, and fruit juices. Alcoholic beverages can cause dry mouth and contribute to bad breath. Water is the best beverage choice for a healthy smile. Rinsing your mouth with water after eating can help remove food particles and dilute the acid produced by bacteria.

Schedule regular dental checkups

Your dentist is your partner in your oral health care plan. He or she will make sure that you are on the right track and that you have regular appointments to keep your mouth up to speed with your dental care needs. During these visits, your dentist will look for common issues that may impair your dental health, such as decay, infection, gum disease, oral cancer, and more. They will also perform an oral cancer screening to make sure that you don’t have abnormal tissue growth in your mouth. With routine screenings, we can help prevent oral diseases in their early stages when they can often be treated more easily. 

Give us a call to learn more or to schedule an appointment with our dentist. We look forward to speaking with you soon!