Keep Your Breath Fresh with These 9 Easy Tips

Halitosis, or bad breath, is a common and embarrassing situation that impacts nearly 80 million people every day. While there are a variety of harmless factors that may cause a bad odor in your mouth, it can sometimes also be the result of a larger underlying issue. Thankfully, a few simple habits can get your oral health back on track and keep your smile fresh. Here are nine tips from your DeLand dentist to help you keep bad breath at bay.

1.) Brush Your Teeth

Plaque releases harmful acids and foul-smelling gases as it feeds off the sugars in the foods you eat. It’s important to clean plaque away before it builds up and laces your breath with a bad odor.

2.) Don’t Forget to Floss

Food particles that become stuck between your teeth can cause bad breath as they break down over time. Flossing daily is a big part of keeping your smile fresh and free of gum disease.

3.) Clean Your Tongue Too

Your tongue collects just as much plaque and bacteria as the rest of your mouth. To remove these stinky elements, brush your tongue regularly or use a tongue scraper.

4.) Try Specialized Mouthwashes

Some mouthwashes only mask the sent of your breath. An antiseptic mouthwash can help treat the bacteria infection or plaque buildup at the root of the issue.

5.) Drink Plenty of Water

A dry mouth allows oral bacteria to grow rapidly. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day inhibits their spread and removes lingering food particles and sugars.

6.) Chew Sugarless Gum

Chewing sugarless gum naturally encourages saliva production and increases swallowing, which can help wash away plaque and bacteria before they can cause bad breath.

7.) Quit Tobacco Products

Tobacco causes a host of issues throughout the body, including a dry mouth and weakened immune system. These two factors can easily lead to gum disease as well as pungent breath.

8.) Eat Crunchy Vegetables

Aromatic foods like garlic and onions are infamous for causing bad breath. Eating more vegetables with high amounts of fiber and water like cucumbers and celery can help scrub your mouth clean as you eat them.

9.) See Your Dentist

Occasionally, halitosis can be a warning sign of an underlying health issue like gum disease, diabetes, kidney issues, or respiratory infection. If you’re struggling with your bad breath, you should talk to your dentist about your concerns. They can help discover what’s causing it and what treatment is needed to help you get back to enjoying your healthy, fresh smile. What’s more, regular dental checkups can prevent bad breath from developing in the first place.

About the Author

Dr. Christopher J. Cowell and his talented team in DeLand, FL are committed to helping you spend less time in their office and more time enjoying your smile. That’s why he puts an emphasis on preventive dental care and helping patients make the most of their at-home oral hygiene. However, if any problems do arise, he has over 23 years of experience treating an array of oral health issues including gum disease, tooth loss, oral infections, and more. If you’re concerned about your bad breath, don’t hesitate to contact him via his website or at (386) 734-8585.