Dealing With Bad Breath

If you are plagued by persistent bad breath, there are often simple solutions to the problem. Many times, changes in lifestyle habits can promote fresher breath and prevent embarrassing moments in your personal and professional life. Read below for helpful tips for dealing with the common problem of bad breath.

• Stop all tobacco use. Tobacco is well-known for its damaging health effects to your entire body. Tobacco causes damage to the mouth as well, only intensifying the foul odor that is left behind inside your mouth. If you use any type or any amount of tobacco, make the choice today to stop.
• Stay hydrated. Your body functions properly when its systems are running well. Water is one of the most necessary components of your body, and when you are not well hydrated, your bodily systems cannot perform as they should. Your mouth relies on the production of saliva to keep it moist and clean throughout the day. Saliva helps to rinse bacteria-laden plaque away from the teeth and keeping it from negatively affecting the scent of your breath.
• Avoid odorous foods and beverages. Some foods and beverages are just stinkier than others. Coffee, wine, alcohol, cheeses, garlic, and onions are among the most notorious for their lingering smells. Avoiding these is the only guaranteed way to prevent them from impacting how your breath smells, but that is not always doable or even desirable. When you do indulge in odorous foods and beverages, brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash shortly afterwards to limit the intensity of their odors and how long they impact your breath.
• Practice good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily are essential habits for keeping the mouth clean and your breath as fresh as possible. Brushing and flossing help to remove plaque from the teeth so that the bacteria do not damage your tooth enamel and gum tissues. Making your oral hygiene a priority is one of the easiest ways to prevent bad breath from occurring and for dealing with occasional instances when it creeps up.
• Clean oral appliances. Oral appliances can harbor just as much plaque as your teeth do. Cleaning them as often as your clean your teeth will help to prevent foul odors from plaguing your mouth. Dentures, retainers, and aligners must be well cared for to ensure that they are helping you, not harming you.
• Visit your dentist regularly. Your dentist is your number one advocate in dealing with bad breath. By visiting the dentist twice a year, s/he can thoroughly clean your teeth and examine them to ensure that plaque buildup is not the source of your problem. If the above mentioned lifestyle changes do not help, there could be underlying issues that your dentist can diagnosis and treat.