Want To Get Rid Of Bad Breath?
June 5, 2017
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT FEELING... you get up in the morning to sun shining, birds chirping and happily lean over to your partner to say hello! Instead you are greeted by the horrible smell of early morning breath. Or maybe you come across friends after work and suddenly become mindful of that bad flavor in your mouth. We have all been there! Sadly bouts of halitosis, or smelly breath are pretty much inevitable. Today we're heading to describe why that is, what causes that nasty smell and what you can do to keep bad breath at bay!
It All Starts With Bacteria
We’re not the only ones who need to eat to stay alive, so do the bacteria living in our mouths. When they snack on whatever’s left behind from our last meal, they release foul-smelling odors as a by-product, causing bad breath.
What you can do: Clean your teeth after every meal! Brush, floss and pop in a piece of sugar-free gum for good measure. This will eliminate food debris and bacteria from your mouth and prevent bad breath. A clean mouth, is a fresh mouth!
Choose Breath-Friendly Foods And Beverages
Keep in mind that certain foods and beverages can make bad breath more likely, such as sugary foods and drinks, garlic, onions, coffee, and alcohol.
What you can do: Choose breath-friendly foods and beverages! Water washes away food debris and increases saliva flow in your mouth, protecting your teeth and mouth from bacteria. Healthy food choices such as carrots, celery and apples are high in water content and actually work as a natural toothbrush, scrubbing plaque bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth.
Good Oral Hygiene Can Reduce Morning Breath
Early morning breath appears to be an especially pungent offender. Why is this? It's mainly because of dry mouth. During the day, saliva works wash away food particles and maintain bacteria in check. When we rest at night, however, our saliva production goes down, causing our mouths to become dry and allowing bacteria to proliferate. In the event that you sleep with the mouth open, it can be even worse.
What you can do: To make your early morning breath less offensive, follow a good oral hygiene regimen. By brushing and flossing your teeth before bed, you're giving bacteria less food to chew on, which will help your breath much better in the morning.
In addition, we suggest cleaning your tongue by either brushing it or by using a tongue scraper, due to the fact that this is where most bad breath-causing bacteria are found. Another tip is to keep water by your bedside. When you wake up at night, take a drink! Keeping your oral cavity moist will combat the spread of those smelly bacteria.
We’re Here For You
For the most part, bad breath is manageable. If you feel like your halitosis is severe however, especially if you follow the steps above, it can be a sign of something more serious such as gum disease, diabetes, sinus problems, gastric reflux or liver or kidney disease. If this is the case, come in to see us so we can address the issue and find the proper solution. We are here to serve you!
Our patients’ smiles make it all worthwhile!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
