A Sign Of Poor Oral Hygiene
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a tell-tale sign of poor oral hygiene. If you are failing to take proper care of your teeth and mouth, you are likely experiencing unpleasant odor emission. This is not an issue that you have to deal with or is challenging to resolve. However, you must be proactive about caring for your oral health during and after the issue is resolved.
We discuss in this article home remedies and treatments that can help prevent/treat bad breath before the condition transitions into something even worse.
Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies for Bad Breath
Brush and floss daily
Good oral hygiene starts with brushing your teeth every day. Ideally, you want to brush, or at least rinse after every meal but no less than twice per day. Your toothbrush should be changed every three or four months.
When brushing, make sure you clean your tongue as well. This is particularly important if you have a coated tongue – this can harbor bacteria. It is recommended that you use a tongue scraper for proper cleaning.
Add flossing to your routine twice a day to ensure you are getting into those hard to reach in between spots. Proper brushing and flossing can help to dislodge food particles, bacteria, and plaque that contribute to bad odor.
Use a mouth rinse
There is a limit to the level of cleansing you’d achieve with brushing and flossing. You will, therefore, do well to also use a good mouth rinse twice daily, preferably after each meal. This can help reduce bacteria and plaque as well as, especially if you are at risk for gingivitis.
Modify your diet
There may be a need to assess your diet to combat bad breath effectively. Avoid foods with a reputation for causing an unpleasant odor, such as garlic and onions. Also, limit those with a high amount of sugars and acids as they enable the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Replace these with stomach-friendly foods such as non-acidic fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains.
Clean your dental appliances regularly
If you use a denture or another dental appliance, make sure you clean it regularly. You should also ensure that these appliances are appropriately fitted so as not to leave room for bacteria.
Guard against dry mouth
Dry mouth is among the reasons you may have bad breath. Therefore, you want to ensure adequate saliva production to assist in flushing away food particles and bacteria.
Experts often recommend chewing sugarless gum to combat or prevent dry mouth. If you dare not a fan of gum, some herbs have long been known to help similarly. An example is fennel, which also boasts antibacterial properties.
It is essential to avoid smoking or chewing tobacco products since they also contribute to dry mouth.
Drink plenty of water
Proper hydration is essential when looking to avoid bad breath. A moistened oral cavity due to appropriate hydration offers a good way of preventing odor-causing bacteria growth.
Preventing dehydration is particularly crucial for those who live a physically active lifestyle. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times when running, lifting weights or exercising in any way.
In-Office Bad Breath Treatment
If you have severe halitosis, home remedies may not suffice. If the odor is sudden or you’ve waited too long while conditions worsened you should visit your our Harrisburg dentist office for treatment.
Drs. Icard or Strein will conduct an oral exam to find the root of the problem. He can do a much more thorough cleaning than you can do on your own. He can also offer other treatment options and even prescribe medication or prescription grade rinses if necessary.
You may be sent to a gum specialist (a periodontist) if you are found to have gum disease. This condition can give rise to pockets of spaces where bacteria can hide to cause odor. Fillings may be needed to correct the problem in this case.
Our Harrisburg NC Dentist Office
To learn more about dental treatments from Icard & Strein Family Dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, call our Harrisburg, NC dental office today at 704.455.5003.
