Bad breath, or halitosis, is one of those things no one wants to deal with. Not only is it embarrassing to have with other people around – it’s just downright unhealthy.
Bad breath is caused by a number of factors. Bacteria in the mouth and food or plaque buildup are the main culprits. But, even more serious causes, such as gingivitis and gum disease, can have long-lasting health impacts on your mouth and the rest of your body.
While you should always consult your dentist if you have chronic bad breath. There are several habits anybody can adopt that will fight bad breath and leave your mouth healthier and happier.
Take a look at these four ways to get rid of bad breath. Have you tried any of these, or have any other methods? Leave a comment!
Brush and Floss
This is the obvious method and the most commonly-recommended by dentists.
While it’s easy to understand why brushing and flossing your teeth is an essential part of dental health, the importance of this practice can’t be overstated. Two to three times a day is recommended by dentists, and that includes flossing and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash.
Keeping up with this practice every day is crucial. When you wake up, your mouth is full of bacteria that’s built up the night before – without brushing and flossing, the bacteria in your mouth is getting a head start to causing bad breath for the rest of the day.
Drinking Water and Rinsing with Water
One common method of beating bad breath that very few people think about is drinking water.
Here’s how it works. Drinking water flushes your mouth out each time and cleanses the tongue and throat. After each meal, have yourself a glass of water to wash everything down.
Also, simply rinsing with water – in the same manner as you would mouthwash – is an effective way of cleaning out all the spaces in between your teeth between flossing. This is important because you can’t brush your teeth after every single time you eat, or else you risk wearing away your enamel too quickly.
Breathing With Your Nose
Are you someone who typically breathes through their mouth? If so, you most likely have a bad breath problem.
Breathing through your mouth stunts the production of saliva. Dry mouths – those that are not producing enough saliva – are havens for bacteria.
Healthy saliva production is essential to a clean mouth. Saliva helps break down plaque and food build-up and kills light bacteria.
Natural Remedies
There are also tons of natural and ancient remedies for bad breath, or halitosis, that are definitely worth looking into.
Certain juices are known to help with bad breath or halitosis because of the acids contained in them. Pineapple juice is anecdotally known to help with bad breath – just make sure to rinse after having a glass or chewing on a piece to remove the sugars.
Vitamin C in oranges is another great way to freshen breath. Vitamin C is a stimulant for saliva production, and the more saliva you have in your mouth, the more bad bacteria can be washed out.
Do you have your own methods of getting rid of bad breath? Leave a comment below!
Local News brought to you by Star Dental Care Port Macquarie
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at 65836111
Author; Dr Jeremy Rourke, B.D.S. Hons. Syd Univ. Dental Surgeon
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