Brushing and Flossing
Bad breath, also called “halitosis,” is most commonly caused by plaque build-up on your teeth and gum surfaces. Plaque consists of bacteria, which feeds on the sugars in your mouth. If plaque is not routinely cleaned off your teeth and gums, it leads to gum disease and cavities. Therefore, the more plaque you have on your teeth and gums, the more likely you are to experience bad breath. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once daily to remove plaque to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Cleaning Your Tongue
Your tongue is a rough surface that can harbour lots of bacteria. In addition, the top surface of your tongue is filled with thousands of taste buds from the back to the tip, which creates many crevices where plaque builds up. Make sure to clean your tongue daily with either your toothbrush or a tongue cleaner.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash helps to reduce the amount of oral bacteria present. Make sure the mouthwash you select is CDA/ADA approved and doesn’t contain alcohol, as alcohol can dry out the mouth and worsen bad breath.
Reduce Your Sugar Intake
The bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugars from the foods and drinks you are consuming. If you have a high sugar diet, more oral bacteria can accumulate and cause bad breath. Try to consume a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed sweets and carbs.
Get Checked For Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is one of the ways the GI tract can cause bad breath. Acid from the stomach comes up through the esophagus and enters the mouth, causing a bad taste in the mouth, bad breath and tooth erosion. If you have any signs or symptoms of acid reflux, make sure to get checked out by your doctor.
Eliminate Smoking and Tobacco Products
Tobacco products, such as cigarettes and chew, cause bad breath. This is because these products dry out the mouth and leave a residual malodour. To improve your breath, try to reduce the use of these products.
Stay Hydrated
A dry mouth causes bad breath. Ensure you drink an adequate amount of water each day, or use salivary substitute products if your dry mouth is ongoing.
If you have any questions about ways to improve your breath, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment.