Bad breath can be embarrassing and can really make sufferers feel self-conscious. It’s also not pleasant for those around you. But you don’t need to suffer in silence. There are lots of things you can do to combat bad breath and feel confident in your oral health.
Here are some of our tips as to why you may be suffering from bad breath, and what you can do to stop it.
Break the bad habits
Smoking
Aside from smelling of smoke immediately after lighting up, there are actually some lasting effects on your breath later in the day. Smoking reduces the flow of saliva, which is your mouth’s method of getting rid of bacteria naturally. When there is a lot of bacteria present in your mouth, it’s not surprising that bad breath will be the result.
Coffee
You might be surprised to know that it isn’t actually the coffee beans that cause bad breath. Coffee with milk is actually often the culprit. While the caffeine in coffee is known to dehydrate you after drinking, leading to a drier than usual mouth, the milk in your coffee also leaves behind bacteria that thrives in the drier conditions. Adding sugar to your coffee also means more bacteria and possibly decay.
Bad Diet
It’s true that you are what you eat, so if you’re on a high sodium (also causes dehydration), high lactose, high sugar diet, you are probably going to suffer from bad breath due to the different acids and bacterias that exist in this type of food. Make sure to cut down on sugar intake, drink plenty of water and introduce less acidic foods like vegetables, and you should start to see a difference.
Adopt some good habits
Flossing
While bad breath is mostly caused by a bacterial build up at the back of your tongue (the place where food escapes your natural mouthwash, saliva), another contributor is the rotting food and build up of bacteria between your teeth. Not only is flossing vital for the health of your teeth and gums, it will also significantly improve your breath.
Brush Your Tongue
If your tongue is the biggest contributor to bad breath then make sure you keep it clean by brushing it. This might feel a little odd at first, but your mouth will feel instantly cleaner and fresher once you start.
Change The Order
As a child you were probably taught to brush, floss and mouthwash. While there’s nothing wrong with this order, it makes more sense to floss first, then use mouth wash (making sure to force the liquid between the gaps in your teeth) and then brush thoroughly (including your tongue).
If you’d like to speak to someone about an ongoing breath issue, feel free to get in touch with us now.