Is there a way to prevent bad breath, because nobody wants it? The medical term for bad breath is Halitosis, is more common than you might think. More than 80 million people suffer from bad breath.
The first step is figuring out if you have bad breath, and if so, how to get rid of it, which can be tricky. When we have breath that’s not quite fresh, it can be hard to detect. As time passes, you can become desensitized to the odor.
The digestion of your food begins in your mouth. Certain foods that have strong odors, like onions or garlic, leave a distinct smell on your breath. Even a thorough brushing will temporarily mask these odors. Unfortunately, until the food is completely digested the smell will remain
If you’ve gone through all the possible causes of what you think is causing your bad breath and it isn’t improving, contact your dentist. If you truly have a more chronic issue, your dentist will be able to help. Call Dr. Guerra today at 561-844-6146.
The best way to eliminate bad breath is to figure out what is causing “it” and nip it in the bud.
1. Poor Oral Hygiene: Brushing and flossing your teeth daily is extremely important for good oral health, as well as for preventing bad breath. If you don’t floss and remove those bits of food from between and on your teeth, bacteria will start feasting away on them as well as on your teeth. This results in an unpleasant odor. Regularly brushing or scraping your tongue helps to remove odor-causing buildup too.
2. Smoking: When you smoke you leave smoke particles in your throat and lungs, which can hang around for hours, resulting in a stale smell. Additionally, the chemicals found in cigarette smoke can also leave a bad smell. There are over 60 of these smelly chemicals, called aromatic hydrocarbons, found in cigarette smoke.
3. Dry Mouth: Saliva serves a number of purposes, including washing away dead skin cells and bacteria from the mouth. To keep your mouth moist, be sure to drink plenty of water.
4. Gum Disease: The buildup of plaque associated with gum disease and the toxins caused by the plaque can cause a foul odor.
5. Poorly Fitting Dentures and Other Appliances: Poorly fitting dentures leave spaces that are ideal for bacteria to grow in. It’s very important that you thoroughly wash your dental appliances often to remove any lingering smells.
