Dealing With Bad Breath

If you have bad breath, then you know exactly how difficult it can be to socialize and work in tight quarters. Bad breath easily travels in the air, making it hard to hide from those around you. Lifestyle changes are often all that are needed to improve the smell of your breath.

Quit tobacco. If you do nothing else for yourself, quitting tobacco should be the number one thing that you do. Tobacco has numerous negative side effects to your health, including damage to your teeth, gums, oral tissues, and throat. The damage that tobacco causes to your oral health only exacerbates bad odors inside your mouth. Make the decision today to quit tobacco once and for all.

Avoid odorous foods and beverages. Certain foods and beverages may taste good, but the smell that they leave behind on your breath is anything but. Coffee, wine, alcohol, onions, garlic, and certain cheeses are notorious for causing bad breath. Avoiding these is the only guaranteed way to prevent them from causing bad breath. While this is not always possible, or desirable, it is possible to keep a little arsenal tucked away after you indulge. Pack a toothbrush, tooth paste, and mouthwash with you when you go out to ensure that you can quickly brush and rinse your mouth after eating and drinking anything known to cause bad breath.

Drink plenty of water. Many of the body’s functions depend upon receiving adequate amounts of water. The mouth needs a constant supply of saliva to wash plaque away from the teeth. Plaque is laden with acid-producing bacteria and builds up on the teeth and gum line each day. The more water you drink, the less your breath will be affected by the foul smell of plaque.

Practice good oral hygiene. Because plaque builds up on the teeth each day, it is important that it is removed daily. Brushing and flossing are essential parts of your oral health care routine in order to prevent plaque’s negative effects of cavities, decay, infection, and disease – all of which negatively impact your breath. Making good oral hygiene a daily habit will go a long way in combating bad breath at its source.

Clean oral appliances. If you wear dentures, teeth aligners, retainers, or other oral appliances, it is important that you care for them on a daily basis. Oral appliances are notorious for harboring foul odors, and they should always be cleaned before putting them back into your mouth.

Visit your dentist regularly. Your dentist is your greatest advocate in fighting bad breath. If you have issues with how your breath smells, your dentist can provide a deep cleaning and thorough exam to determine if plaque buildup is the culprit of your stinky situation. Once plaque has been cleared away, your breath should improve. However, if an underlying condition is present, your dentist will often be the first to notice it.

Posted on behalf Ashley Dinh, DDS