Experts estimate that over 25% of Americans suffer from chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis. Although some individuals just wake up with bad morning breath, others constantly suffer from bad breath, which can be embarrassing and detrimental to their self-esteem. Many causes lead to bad breath including: poor dental hygiene, certain medications, dry mouth, or certain types of diseases. If you suffer from bad breath, many treatment options exist to rid you of unpleasant lingering odors in your mouth.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking water is a critical way to eliminate harmful bacteria that causes foul-smelling breath. Staying hydrated is also great for your overall health, which will positively benefit your oral health.
- Brush Your Teeth After Meals: When you don’t brush your teeth after eating, food particles remain in your mouth, which can cause bacteria to build up and cause bad breath. Brushing your teeth after each meal can help eliminate the germs and food particles that cause bad breath.
- Brush Your Tongue & Use a Tongue Scraper: Brushing your teeth alone does not remove all the particles from your mouth. Food debris and bacteria can build up on the tongue, giving it a white appearance and cause bad breath. Every time you brush your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue. Using a tongue scraper is also a great way to eliminate debris.
- Adjust Your Diet: The foods that you eat can directly affect your oral health and the scent of your breath. Foods like onions and garlic are obvious foods that affect your breath, but foods high in sugar can also be linked with bad breath. Adding foods high in probiotics, such as yogurt, miso soup, and pickles, can help your digestive system break down foods and minimize foul breath.
- Avoid Tabacco Products: Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco can cause bad breath, as well as various other oral and overall health issues. You can improve your breath by avoiding tobacco products and quitting smoking.
The first step in combatting bad breath is to review your oral hygiene habits and make necessary adjustments. Contact Chestnut Ridge Dental today to schedule your dental cleaning and exam and discuss any oral health problems you may be experiencing. To schedule an appointment, call us at (201) 391-4466.
