Six Steps Towards Banishing Bad Breath

Six Steps Towards Banishing Bad Breath

May 29, 2014

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Whether you’re willing to admit it or not, everybody occasionally suffers from bad breath. Bad breath, also referred to clinically as halitosis, can cause problems with your social life by making you feel embarrassed and self-conscious. Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with reoccurring bad breath, as a number of simple and effective ways exist to help keep your mouth fresh and free of foul smells, from your choice for the best Family Dentistry Beaverton, Oregon has: Murray Scholls Family Dental.

Brush and Floss More Often

One of the main causes of bad breath is the build up of plaque, a stick biofilms that accumulates bacteria in the mouth. Food stuck between teeth also contributes to the problem. Everybody should brush at least twice a day and floss daily. If you suffer from frequent bouts of bad breath, try brushing a little more often. However, don’t over do it. Brushing too aggressively can wear down your teeth’s enamel, making them susceptible to the effects of decay.

Scrape Your Tongue

If you notice a whiteish film covers your tongue, you may have discovered one of the main reasons why you suffer from bad breath. The coating you see can harbor a host of foul-smelling bacteria. To rid your tongue of these unwanted guests, simply give it a gentle scrubbing with your toothbrush. If your brush is too big to reach the back of your tongue comfortably, consider purchasing a tongue scrapper.

Avoid Eating Sour Smelling Foods

Garlic and onion are two prime offenders of the types of foods that can cause seriously foul smelling breath. Unfortunately, trying to brush away these offending foods after eating doesn’t actually help resolve the problem. The stinky substances these foods contain make their way into your bloodstream and travel to your lungs, where you exhale them with every breath out. The only way to avoid the problem is to avoid eating these types of foods entirely, especially before important social or professional situations where the freshness of your breath could be an issue.

Kick the Habit

By now, we all know the kind of long-term damage smoking can do to an individual’s health. Smoking damages gum tissue and stains teeth. It also increases the risk of developing oral cancer. If these weren’t reason enough to quit, smoking also has quite the impact on the freshness of your breath.

Schedule Regular Dental Appointments

Scheduling regular checkups and cleanings with Dr. Walker and his staff is just as important for maintain your oral health as brushing and flossing. Neglecting to receive regular dental care can greatly increase your risk of developing an oral health problem that could cause not only bad breath, but other serious issues, as well.

Drink Plenty of Water

A lack of moisture in the mouth helps to promote the growth of bacteria that causes tooth decay and bad breath. If you suffer from dry mouth, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Even if you don’t suffer from a lack of saliva, drinking water helps to wash away bacteria and lingering food particles from the mouth that contribute to the development of bad breath.