Fixing Bad Breath
Good oral health is a state of being free from the mouth, facial, oral and throat pain. To enjoy a healthy oral state, extra care must be done to prevent oral diseases such as oral infection and sores, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and even bad breath. These disorders limit an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking, and psychosocial well-being.
Moreover, bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. It is an unpleasant odor of the breath of a person. Halitosis is common among humans around the world and is usually caused by an accumulation of bacteria in the mouth as a result of gum disease, food, or plaque.
Preventing, treating or at least covering bad breath is a tough thing to do. You may buy and use mints, gums, mouthwashes, sprays and other products aimed at combating bad breath but these only control the bad breath for a short while; floss, toothpaste, and a good toothbrush are way better. However, good dental hygiene can improve bad breath and is usually considered the best preventive measure. The causes of bad breath are the following: Poor dental hygiene, Bacteria, Poor denture hygiene, Dry mouth, Morning bad breath, Food and drink, Medications, Smoking, Illnesses, conditions and situations such as Tonsillitis, Diabetes, Bronchitis and chronic lung infections, Sinusitis, Gastritis, Acid reflux, Very low carbohydrate diets, Liver problems, Kidney problems and some cancers.
Furthermore, to prevent bad breath that is presumed to not be the causes of diseases, you may practice the following dental hygiene routines:
- Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Your toothbrush should be small to medium-sized. It should have soft, multi-tufted nylon bristles.
- Replace your toothbrush periodically; at least once every 3 months.
- A tooth-brushing session should last at least two minutes. Make sure you have covered all areas, especially where the tooth meets the gum. Use a back and forth brushing motion on the outside and inside of all teeth. Don’t forget to reach all your back teeth; the ones that do all the chewing.
- Lightly brush your tongue with a tongue scraper or a separate toothbrush.
- Floss your teeth once a day with dental floss to remove any trapped food. Flossing will reach areas brushing might not, such as along the gum line between the teeth. Get a strand about 18 inches long and wrap the ends of the strand around the middle finger of each hand until there is about 1 inch of floss between each hand. Gently push the floss in between your teeth “sawing” back and forth until you reach the gum line.
- (Optional) Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash. However, this is complementary and should never be a substitute for brushing or flossing.
- Take dentures out at night so that your mouth can recover.
The bottom line is if your mouth is pushing people away even before you speak, take a few of the tips above and meet with your Local Dentist. Click here to contact us today to schedule an appointment.
