Bad breath is not a problem we want to have. It’s a problem that “other people” struggle with. If we had bad breath, we would know, right? We could go on about the internal dialogue many people have about their breath. We’ll just say that bad breath is a bigger problem than you may think, and, yes, you may have it and not realize it. But there are ways you can manage your breath either before unpleasant odor becomes obvious, as well as after.
Clean it up
You know you are supposed to brush your teeth morning and night, and you do. But how much time are you spending on the task? Two minutes? Would you say that you are careful to brush every tooth, every surface, more than once? It’s easy to brush without really thinking, but this can lead to costly mistakes in oral care.
Brushing is just the beginning. Flossing is also a necessity for fresh breath. In just a minute or two, flossing removes residue that could stick in between teeth and collect odor-causing bacteria. Finally, those same bacteria also seem to love hanging around on the back of the tongue. Using a toothbrush to clean the back of the tongue only displaces that bacteria from the mouth onto the toothbrush and then to another part of the mouth. For optimum cleanliness, use a tongue scraper.
Moisten it
A mouth that is dry is likely a mouth with too much bacteria. Dry mouth may be due to too little water consumption. Sipping on water multiple times an hour works in your favor because this habit continually moistens and dilutes acidity that can cause odorous breath. Some people are more prone to dry mouth and may need a particular level of dental care to manage this condition.
Fix it
Dentures are a natural risk for bad breath due to their structure. When a denture sits too loosely over the gums, bacteria can accumulate beneath them. Removing dentures every day for cleaning, and also gently cleaning the gums, can reduce bacterial activity in the mouth and on the denture itself. Also, relining is an important aspect of denture care that should not be postponed. At the first indication of looseness, contact your dentist for appropriate adjustments.
Contact us at (561) 627-9000 for friendly dental care that supports fresh breath.