Win the Battle Against Bad Breath

Nothing’s worse than sitting next to someone with bad breath on a cross-country or international flight. Unless, of course, you’re the person emitting the offensive odor. Knowing that you have smelly breath (halitosis) and being unsure of what to do about it can be extremely embarrassing.

Bad breath can actually result from several different issues: decaying or infected teeth and gums; eating food with particularly pungent odors; food or bacteria in the teeth or on the tongue; dry mouth; even certain diseases unrelated to dental health. If you are one of the 80 million people suffering from halitosis, a thorough cleaning and examination in our office is a good place to start.

Once you are sure that the bad breath isn’t being caused by a condition necessitating medical or dental treatment, you can try the following tips to maintain fresh, pleasant breath:

1. Brush and floss (twice a day for brushing, once a day for flossing). That keeps food from getting stuck in your teeth and eliminates breath-wrecking plaque.
2. Gently clean your tongue every day. Use a tongue scraper or toothbrush to remove the odor-causing bacteria, dead cells and food particles that can linger there.
3. Keep your mouth moist. Saliva is your body’s natural breath freshener; so if you’re plagued with dry mouth, talk to us about solutions.
4. Chew sugarless gum. Unlike sugary mints or candy, sugarless gum helps stimulate breath-saving saliva without the acid-causing effects that can lead to decay.
5. Eat crisp, fresh fruits and vegetables. They stimulate saliva flow, too.
6. Use an antibacterial mouthwash. Or you can just swish some water mixed with peppermint oil after eating to remove bacteria and mask the odors on your breath.
7. Avoid foods with pungent, sharp odors. Foods such as garlic and onions actually cause bad breath internally. Even if you have removed all traces of them from your teeth, you may still be burping up last night’s garlic pesto. Steer clear of these foods if you’re concerned about your breath.
8. Quit smoking. Not only do cigarettes leave the lingering smell of tobacco on your lips but they also dry out your mouth.

Should these solutions fail to alleviate or eliminate your bad breath, there is no reason to suffer in silence. At your next regular appointment, talk to us about improving your breath.