Bad breath, or halitosis, is a social taboo that can hold you back from achieving your dreams. It can prevent you from being confident and affect your self-esteem. Halitosis can be caused due to several reasons, but most of the time, it is caused by poor oral hygiene. Listed below are some easy tips you can follow to achieve good oral health and get rid of bad breath.

Brush your teeth after you eat

When you eat foods that contain a lot of sugar, the bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar and produce acids that attack the enamel on your teeth. These acids weaken and soften your enamel, making it easier for plaque bacteria to stick to them. The buildup of this bacterial film is called plaque, and it eventually hardens into tartar. Bacteria also produce foul-smelling gases during the digestion process that cause bad breath.

To prevent these unpleasant symptoms from occurring, brush shortly after you’ve finished eating. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to thoroughly scrub your teeth. Additionally, you should floss daily to remove particles of food from between teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

Make sure to rinse your mouth with water after you finish brushing too. Rinsing your mouth removes any leftover toothpaste and helps decrease the risk of tooth erosion when drinking acidic drinks like coffee or soda.

Floss at least once a day

The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least once a day to help clean areas where your toothbrush can’t reach. This helps keep plaque from building up and bacteria from forming.

Brush your tongue

One of the best ways to get rid of bad breath is by brushing your tongue. Plaque and food particles can get stuck on the surface of your tongue. A toothbrush or a tongue-scraper are the best ways to get those stuck-on bits off so you can experience fresh breath all day long.

Clean your dentures or dental appliances

You should clean all removable dental hardware every day. Make sure you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste to gently brush your appliances. Use cool, clean water to rinse the appliance thoroughly. Soaking your dentures in cleaning solutions can help remove stains, but avoid using abrasive scrub pads as they can scratch the appliance.

Avoid dry mouth

A dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition caused by a lack of saliva in the mouth. Saliva is a natural substance that cleans the mouth and neutralizes acids produced by plaque.

When a person has a dry mouth, they may experience tooth pain, bad breath, an unpleasant taste in their mouth, and a sore throat. In order to prevent dry mouth, people should brush their teeth often and avoid beverages that promote dehydration, such as coffee and alcohol. It’s also a good idea to avoid tobacco products and medicines that cause dry mouth when taken long-term. When people are experiencing dry mouth, they can talk to their dentist about treatment that can help restore moisture to their mouth and minimize the effects of dry mouth on their smile’s overall health.

Dentists can also recommend special rinses and toothpaste to help patients combat the effects of dry mouth at home.

Adjust your diet

Certain foods and drinks can cause bad breath or make your mouth feel dry. If you’ve recently started to notice that your breath smells bad or your dry mouth is driving you crazy with discomfort and irritation, try reevaluating your diet to see if there’s a problem there. While foods like garlic, onions, fish, and other strongly flavored foods can be healthy and add great flavor to your food, they can also make your breath smell terrible. Try to avoid these foods as often as possible. Also, make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day to stay hydrated and prevent bad breath.

Schedule regular dental checkups

Your dentist will check your mouth for signs of tooth decay and gum disease. They’ll also check for signs of oral cancer. Regular dental checkups are an important part of maintaining your oral health. If your dentist finds any issues, they can treat them right away before they turn into bigger problems.

Call us at (832) 939-9999 or email us at info@sweetwaterdentalstudio.com. Visit us in Sweetwater Dental Studio at 4840 Sweetwater Blvd suite A, Sugar Land, TX 77479.