Are you struggling with bad breath despite brushing your teeth twice each day? How about flossing? Many of us tend to believe that all we need to do in order to have a fresh breath is to simply brush our teeth, have a mint or chew some minty gum. While these might help in the short term, there are a number of other preventable factors that contribute to ongoing bad breath.
Bad breath affects many people, and in a lot of cases it all comes down to poor oral hygiene.
Firstly, as part of your daily oral hygiene routine, you need to be flossing your teeth at a minimum of once each day. Without this vital step, you’re failing to remove the collection of food particles and bacteria that gather in between your teeth – where your toothbrush can’t reach – leading to bad breath. By including the simple step of flossing in your oral hygiene routine, you can help to prevent and even remove that embarrassing presence of bad breath.
Another step that should be included when brushing your teeth is also brushing your tongue, gums and the roof of your mouth – these are all areas that food particles and bacteria can remain, even after brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth with water. Following up your oral hygiene routine by rinsing your mouth with a good antibacterial mouthwash will also greatly assist in preventing bad breath.
Something you may not have considered to be a contributor is a lack of saliva. We’re all familiar with the early morning bad breath – this common experience is a result of a reduction in the circulation of saliva in your mouth while you sleep. When there is less saliva in the mouth, it leaves you more vulnerable to a buildup of plaque – which can quickly lead to a less-than-pleasant odour. Other contributors to a lack of saliva in your mouth include alcohol, certain medications and being hungry or dehydrated.
Your diet and other habits, such as smoking, will also have an impact on your oral health and the nature of your breath.
For advice on the cause, treatment and prevention of halitosis (bad breath), schedule an appointment with us today at Tindale Dental in Penrith. Our team of highly experienced dentists are dedicated to providing you with the dental care that will have positive outcomes for your oral health now and well into the future. Contact us today for your appointment by calling (02) 4726 5400 so that you can start to enjoy fresher breath.