Bad breath can be caused by a variety of different factors. However, in the majority of cases, it’s caused by food particles that remain on the gums, tongue, teeth, and other structures in the mouth that collect bacteria. If you feel like you can never get your bad breath to go away, as your dental clinic, there are several things that we recommend doing to get rid of it.
Fresh breath starts with good oral hygiene. Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth helps remove food and plaque that accumulate in your mouth and harbour bacteria. Brushing 2-3 times a day and flossing daily is the first step in having fresh breath.
When you brush your teeth, make sure that you don’t forget about your tongue. Since the tongue’s surface is extremely rough and contains many cracks and crevices, bacteria can accumulate in this area easily. Using a tongue scraper that can be purchased from your local pharmacy makes cleaning your tongue easy and more effective.
Attend your regular dental hygiene visits. Hygienists are trained to remove debris from your teeth that brushing and flossing misses, such as below the gum line or in hard-to-reach areas. We are your oral health experts at maintaining a healthy and fresh smile.
Using a non-alcohol mouth rinse can also help maintain fresh breath by killing bacteria that live on the soft tissues, such as your cheeks. Make sure that the mouth rinse is approved by a major dental association for keeping bacteria under control.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. When we get thirsty, our saliva flow decreases; this allows bacteria to thrive in our mouth and produce more bad odours. Watch out for sugary drinks, such as juice, milk or energy drinks – frequent exposure to natural sugars as well as added sugars will cause cavities, which are also caused by bacteria!!
Chewing sugar-free gum will also help keep your breath fresh by making your whole mouth feel minty. Chewing gum also helps to stimulate your saliva flow and prevent a dry mouth, which can contribute to bad breath.
Smoking and certain foods and medications can also contribute to bad breath. Feel free to discuss your concerns with our oral health team at Georgian Shores Dental Centre.