Bad breath isn’t just unpleasant; it can be downright embarrassing. The good news is that there are things that you can do to help minimize malodorous breath. Our Glendale dentists are here with some quick tips—keep reading to learn more!
We all deal with bad breath temporarily after we’ve eaten something stinky: say garlic or onions. However, chronic bad breath is actually caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth. As oral bacteria grow and multiply, they release odors as a byproduct.
So, one of the best things that you can do in order to fight bad breath is to thoroughly clean your smile every morning and night. Take special care to clean your tongue, as this can harbor malodorous bacteria. You can also get into the habit of rinsing your mouth with water after you eat during the day. This will help to clear away dental debris while simultaneously prompting saliva production.
Speaking of saliva, patients who deal with dry mouth are more likely to develop halitosis. This is because saliva works to neutralize oral bacteria, re-mineralize enamel, and freshen breath. So, if your body is not producing enough saliva, bacteria can quickly take over.
Make sure that you’re drinking enough water and staying well-hydrated to encourage saliva production. Drinking water throughout the day, as well as rinsing your mouth with water, will help your body better fight off potentially harmful oral bacteria.
If you’re going to be using mints or gums to temporarily freshen your breath, you want to look for formulations that don’t contain sugar. Oral bacteria feed on sugars, so you want to limit sugar in your diet.
Our Glendale dentists are here to provide you with any support and information you may need about fighting bad breath. Give our office a call to get started, or use the Contact Us page on our site to submit an inquiry for our team.