Bad breath, also known as halitosis, has a very distinctive or bad odour. It is due to several reasons and happens to all of us at a certain point.
Here are some key factors to avoid bad breath:
1. Promoting good oral hygiene
Brush your teeth properly. Brushing your teeth properly is one of the best things you can do in your fight against bad breath. Brush at least twice a day, for at least two minutes, and make sure to cover all the areas in your mouth. Especially focus on the neck of the teeth where the teeth meet the gums.
We recommend the following to maintain good oral hygiene:
- Replace your brush every three months.
- Make sure to brush/scrape your tongue, because your tongue gets a lot of build-up of bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Brush from the back to the front of your tongue and be certain to get the sides as well.
- Use mouthwash to rinse and deep gargle an antiseptic mouthwash will kill the bacteria causing bad breath.
- Flossing regularly this is another way to remove leftover food particles in between the teeth and gums. These particles rot and cause bad odour.
2. Get regular dental check-ups
Going to the dentist is important to maintaining your oral health, a primary factor in bad breath. A dentist, or dental hygienist, will perform a thorough cleaning of your teeth, gums, and mouth. Your dentist will notice if your bad breath is caused by something more serious than simply food or drink, or not having brushed properly.
If you have a lot of bad breath issues and you’re following a strict healthy mouth regime (with brushing and eating properly), then you should definitely book an appointment with Prosmiles at our dental clinic in Melbourne.
3. Drink lots of water.
Drinking water helps keep your mouth hydrated and flushes out toxins produced by bacteria that produce them. Dehydration is one of the causes of halitosis. Bad breath actually worsens with dry mouth.
Drinking coffee, tea, soda, and alcohol to cleanse will not help. In most cases, these are the causes of your bad breath. Avoid acidic and sugary drinks as bacteria thrive on them make them more susceptible to caries and four odors.
4. Eat a lot of fiber rich food
Fibre is good for you. Fibre rich food can help to cleanse your body and releases toxins from the body. Try eating sugar-free yogurt once a day. Yogurt with good bacteria (probiotic bacteria) prevents bad breath by reducing the levels of bad breath-causing sulphide compounds.
5. Drink green or black tea
Tea contains polyphenols that help eliminate sulphur compounds and reduce oral bacteria. They also aid in hydrating the mouth. Drink hot unsweetened tea several times a day for best results.
6. Quit tobacco products and smoking
If you ever needed another reason to quit, here’s an easy one: smoking contributes to bad breath. Tobacco tends to dry out your mouth and can leave an unpleasant smell that lingers even after brushing your teeth.