How Can I Get Rid of Bad Breath?

Having bad breath is something that happens to everyone. Maybe you forgot to brush your teeth that morning, or you’d eaten something like garlic that tends to hang around for hours. Chew some gum, have a Tic-Tac, and remember to brush your teeth as soon as you can, right? Unfortunately, it may not be as simple as that. Halitosis, or chronic bad breath, is a condition that may be a sign of a greater problem with your mouth. Before the holiday meals are passed around this winter season, learn more about how you can cure your bad breath, and save you and your family from frustration.

Halitosis: An Unseen Problem

The mouth is a complicated environment, but it is safe to say that most of the body’s health problems originate in the poor maintenance of the mouth, teeth, and gums. When food gets stuck in the mouth, bacteria multiply. Bacteria leads to a breakdown of dental enamel and the deterioration of gums, causing a nearly permanent change in the environment of your mouth that brushing and flossing by themselves cannot cure.

Here are just some of the causes of halitosis that you may not realize can cause chronic bad breath:

• Dental issues such as gum disease and cavities can hide sources of bacteria that are difficult to remove without a dentist’s assistance.
• Dry mouth can occur for any number of reasons: from certain medications, health problems, or alcohol and tobacco use. Saliva is vital for keeping your mouth free of stagnant bacteria; without it, bad breath can remain for a very long time.
• Smoking and drinking can especially cause more harm than good inside the mouth. Drinking alcohol can dry out the mouth, and the constant application of tar-like substances from cigarettes can yellow the teeth and lead to gum problems. These, in turn, can lead to halitosis.

Solutions for Halitosis

Halitosis is often caused by long-term issues and can be difficult to solve on your own. With simple habit changes and assistance from the dental staff at Mesa Street Dental, you can find relief from this chronic and embarrassing issue.

1. Brush and floss twice a day. These simple acts can do wonders for keeping your mouth free of additional plaque and bacteria buildup.
2. Remember to brush and scrape your tongue. It may not look like there’s a problem, but the tongue is a trap for bacteria because of the gaps between taste buds. If you taste the smell, this could be a major source of the problem.
3. Use mouthwash. Effective mouthwash kills bacteria in the mouth that would otherwise cause conditions like decay and cavities. It also freshens breath on both the long and short-term.
4. Be sure to drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water every day, or more if you live an active lifestyle. Water can aid in the production of saliva and flush out the bacteria that can get trapped in your mouth.
5. And above all, visit your dentist! If you find you have a problem with halitosis, give us a call and make an appointment for a check-up. We can help you narrow down the reasons why your bad breath keeps returning and offer a treatment plan that you can follow to ensure fresher breath and a healthier smile.

If bad breath is bringing you down, come visit our friendly dental office at Mesa Street Dental! We want you to be confident in your dental health and that includes your breath. Schedule an appointment with us to remedy your bad breath or for general care to improve your breath today!