Bad breath has many causes, but no matter how it arrives, it’s always unwanted.
Sometimes, it can signify an underlying health condition like periodontal disease or tonsillitis. More common causes include poor dental hygiene, certain medications, low-carb diets, drinking coffee or alcohol, smoking, or eating foods like garlic, onions, and spices.
Fortunately, your dentist in Hamden has several suggestions you can implement daily to help keep bad breath at bay.
Snack on Crispy Fruits and Veggies
Eating items like carrots, celery, or apples can increase your saliva flow. This helps remove food debris and bacteria. On the other hand, if you have an empty stomach due to skipping meals, the buildup of stomach acid can cause bad breath.
Use Sugarless Gum or Candy
These are also saliva flow stimulators. You may have seen sugarless gum advertisements touting fresh breath as a benefit.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking at least 48 ounces of water daily can help you avoid dry mouth. Water helps combat bad breath since it washes away food particles and bacteria.
Avoid Tobacco Products
Everyone knows that smoking contributes to bad breath. Even brushing your teeth might not do the trick. Tobacco tends to dry out your mouth, making it easier for bacteria to thrive.
Brush Your Teeth
Brushing your teeth twice each day makes a big difference in removing food debris and plaque. Brushing before bedtime is especially important, because otherwise your teeth will be covered in odor-causing bacteria that also damages tooth enamel for the entire night.
Floss Regularly
Flossing removes food debris that your toothbrush can’t reach. Not including it in your regimen will allow bacteria to feed on what’s left behind after brushing.
Use Mouthwash
Rinsing with mouthwash is an excellent idea, but there is another option worth considering. You could also rinse with black or green tea, which suppresses the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Scrape Your Tongue
You can get a tongue scraper to remove residue that may accumulate between the folds in your tongue and your taste buds. Using your toothbrush on your tongue also works.
Get a Professional Cleaning
Visiting your dentist regularly is certainly one of the most crucial elements in the fight against bad breath. They can make sure that dental issues aren’t part of the problem for you, plus provide a more thorough cleaning than you could ever do on your own.
Following these suggestions will put you in great position to boot bad breath out of your life. Your dentist can detect underlying health conditions that potentially make your battle with bad breath harder than it has to be, so be sure that all your bases are covered.
About the Practice
At D’Andrea and Pantera Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we are committed to excellence and serving our patients with the utmost respect. Our four-dentist team is knowledgeable to be able to provide a wide spectrum of services to benefit your smile and oral health. A dental checkup and cleaning are definitely on the checklist of ways you can conquer bad breath. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (203) 288-0951.
