How to keep your breath fresh

Where does bed breath come from?

Chronic bad breath, or halitosis, rarely comes from the stomach. 90% of the time it starts in the mouth, mostly from the tongue, the area between the teeth and below the gum line. It is often caused by the breakdown of bacteria from the left over food in the mouth. As a result of this process foul-smelling sulfur gas is produced. Our sense of smell has the ability to adapt, so most people are not aware of their bed breath.

It's estimated that 25 percent of adults suffer of chronic bad breath and may be 50 percent in older adults. Bed breath is more noticeable when gum disease is present.

Here are some tips to help treat halitosis:

Professional Oral Hygiene Good oral hygiene is essential for avoiding bad breath. Regular cleanings (at least twice a year) with a dentist or dental hygienist are very important.

Deep dental cleanings. Most of you may already know that there is more than one kind of dental prophylaxis. In treating halitosis, it's very important to have deep cleaning. This procedure typically requires numbing and usually takes two visits. The purpose of the deep scaling is to remove tartar and hard build up accumulations from under the gum area. Deep cleaning is followed up by regular oral hygiene checkups, at least every six months.

Home oral hygiene.

Brush twice a day with antibacterial toothpaste. Look for Triclosan in the active ingredients if your gums are bleeding.
Remember that flossing is the key and that removing food accumulations between your teeth twice a day helps preventing bad breath.

Scraping you tongue using a tongue scraper. Some toothbrushes have a built-in tongue scraper.

Mouthwash itself does not have a long-lasting effect. Instead you can rinse twice a day with a hydrogen peroxide solution, which completely cures halitosis in some individuals. Mix one part water with one part hydrogen peroxide, and add a little bit of salt and/or baking soda. Rinse for 30 seconds and spit. Please do not swallow.
Food may be a factor in bad breath. Certain foods contribute to objectionable mouth odor, for example garlic and onions. Not skipping meals is also helpful in preventing halitosis. Eating helps remove bacteria on the tongue by washing away the foot partials, which helps avoid bad breath. Be careful because constant snacking is bad for your oral hygiene since saliva doesn't have time in between meals to wash away food naturally. It's also important to drink water regularly.
Chew sugarless gums. Chewing gum increases salivary flow, which has a bathing or cleansing effect on teeth. But chewing sweetened gum increase the amount of sugar in saliva, which feeds the bacteria that cause bad breath. Best time is after meal and please don’t chew gum for more than 10-15 min.

Halitosis may also be a sign of a serious medical disorder, so if we determine that your mouth is healthy we will refer you to a general doctor for further examination.

Although many individuals worry about bad breath and much smaller percentage actually suffer from this chronic condition. The good news is that bed breath is easily and fully treatable. If you suspecting halitosis please contact us and we will help alleviate the problem.