Bad Breath Squelchers!

Bad breath affects approximately 90 million people, according to WebMD. There may be refuge in knowing that you are among many who have suffered from bad breath. Yet, this is no conciliation when contending with odorous breath. The conversation, the kiss, sleeping with your partner at night and waking up together in the morning may be inhibited by bad breath. Certainly, there are bad breath gums, refreshing sprays and toothpastes that may mask bad breath. However, it’s important to get to the root of bad breath and strike it at its core. Leftover food particles in the mouth can cause bad breath. Since saliva has disinfecting enzymes that can kill odor causing bacteria in the mouth, it’s important to maintain adequate saliva flow in order to avoid bad breath. Periodontal disease is another cause of bad breath which can be managed with professional teeth cleaning, root planing and scaling. There’s also several more ways to avoid bad breath, as follows.

1. Stay away from acidic foods that affect pH balance in the mouth which can cause bad breath.   Consider a pH balanced mouthwash.

2. Avoid alcohol based mouthwashes that dry out the mouth and contribute to bad breath.

3. Invest in xylitol gum or sugar free gum that makes you salivate to cleanse away odor causing bacteria from your mouth.

4. Use a tongue cleaner to remove bacteria on the tongue.

5. Floss and use a water pick to remove debris that causes odors from your teeth.

6. See your dentist at least twice a year to remove plaque, a major contributor to bad breath. Maintain tooth restorations. Prevent cavities, tooth decay, or periodontal (gum) disease from surfacing. All of which, if not prevented, may lead to halitosis.

7. Look into oral moisturizing gels if you have a dry mouth so you can prevent bacteria from surfacing in the mouth.

8. Manage medical conditions that trigger halitosis such as sinusitis.

9. Check to see if you have a vitamin deficiency. Deficiencies in Vitamin A, C and Zinc are known to lead to halitosis.

10. Be mindful of low carb diets that can cause bad breath. Refresh your breath with celery, peanuts and carrots.

11. See your dentist to check on your level of biofilms.

To learn more about bad breath, contact Austin Dental Spa.