Dealing with Bad Breath

Dealing with Bad Breath

We all have had to deal with embarrassing bad breath sometime in our lives. Usually we like to blame it on the food we just ate for lunch or dinner loaded with garlic or onions. But, is this really the cause? Or could it include a number of things we usually don’t suspect. There could be a number of different causes, some with simple solutions. Here are some tips to keep your breath smelling fresh.

Back to the Basics: Everyone is familiar with the basics of brushing and flossing. Basic hygiene practices for your teeth and gums will help keep you breath minty fresh. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of brushing and flossing after every meal.

Dental Health: Regular dental appointments are important in the fight against bad breath. Tooth decay, dental abscess, gum disease are all causes of bad breath. You may be brushing and flossing multiple times a day but if you have a broken or decayed tooth the bacteria present will cause bad breath. Same with gum disease; Gum disease is a bacterial infection. It too can cause bad breath. Tooth decay and gum disease will require professional help from your dentist and hygienist.

Old Dentures: Old dentures can also cause bad breath. Generally dentures are made of a plastic material. This plastic is porous, with lots of nooks and crannies where bacteria can imbed into the surface. The American Dental association recommends replacing your dentures every five years.

Tongue Cleaning: One of the biggest factors causing bad breath is bacteria trapped on the surface of your tongue. Your tongue, especially the top back, has thousands of places for bacteria and food debris to stay trapped causing bad breath. The best way to treat this is with a device called a “tongue scraper”. This device removes much of the trapped bacteria and food debris.

Fruit Can Help: Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet naturally cleans your teeth by removing plaque and food particles from in between your teeth and gums

Herbal Remedies Work as Well: An exotic Indian spice known as Cardamom added to food can reduce bad breath naturally by eliminating fungi that live in your mouth. Also, black and green tea can help.

Medications: Certain medicines like antidepressants, antihistamines and blood pressure medication can contribute to dry mouth leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Dry mouth can be a major contributor to bad breath. Saliva is your bodies first line of defense to help wash away bacteria and clean your mouth. If you have dry mouth, check with your dentist about mouth washes and tooth paste that may help alleviate this condition.

Medical Conditions: Bad breath can sometimes be caused by health problems. Diabetes, acid reflux, liver problems and sinus infections all can contribute to bad breath. If you seem to have tried everything consult with your physician.

Rest assured the dental team at Drs. Lerner and Lemongello’s office is available to ensure your comfort and safety and are available to answer any of your concerns.  So whether it is for a dental check up, a simple tooth restoration, a smile makeover, dental implants, or complete mouth restorations our team is ready to help you achieve the smile you deserve and the dental heath you want.

Get the beautiful smile you have always dreamed of, make an appointment today! Contact Drs. Lerner and Lemongello for an appointment and information on all dental procedures at 561-627-9000.  Visit our website at  www.lernerlemongello.com and view our “Smile Gallery” for examples of some of South Florida’s most beautiful smiles.

Drs. Lerner and Lemongello also proudly serve Stuart, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach

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