How to Get Rid of Bad Breath

According to the research bad breath (also called halitosis) affects approximately 30% of people around the world. Having a bad breath can be embarrassing not only to us but also to people around us. Luckily, bad breath is a problem that is often easy to fix. Maintaining good oral hygiene, regular check-ups at your Surrey dentist and ruling out any other factors (such as medications or food) can significantly improve your breath and make it more pleasant.

What Causes Bad Breath?

• Dry mouth provides a great environment for bacteria reproduction. Speaking for a long time, smoking or snoring can lead to a dry mouth. Most of the people experience bad breath in the morning. The reason for that is that our body does not produce enough saliva while we are sleeping.
• Foods. Certain types of foods such as onions or garlic can make your breath worse because they contain sulfur compounds. Meat, fish and dairy products contain dense proteins that are used as a food source by bacteria that causes bad breath. Also drinks such as coffee or juice that are acidic create an ideal environment for bacteria.
• Bad dental hygiene can lead to bacterial buildup on the teeth and gums. That can lead to gum disease (periodontitis) that can cause bad breath.
• Disease. According to the research in around 10% of all cases, bad breath is caused by a disease or illness such as diabetes, lung disease, kidney disease or liver disease. These diseases often lead to dry mouth that creates a good environment for bacterial reproduction.

Fortunately, it is easy to improve your breath and contribute to your overall oral health at the same time. Dentist in Surrey, BC – Green Apple Dental recommends you do the following:

Brush and Floss Your Teeth More Often

You should brush your teeth and least twice a day and floss at least once a day. If you ate anything acidic, you should wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. Also, brushing too hard or using too firm bristles can hurt tooth enamel and make your teeth more vulnerable to decay.

Scrape Your Tongue

Gently brush your tongue with a toothbrush to get rid of coating that forms on your tongue since it can host the smelly bacteria. If
your toothbrush is too big, you can try using tongue scraper that is specifically designed for tongue scraping.

Rinse Your Mouth

Rinse your mouth with plain water after consuming food or beverages to get rid of lodged food between your teeth. Mouthwash is also a great way how to add extra protection and remove smelly bacteria.

Avoid Foods That Cause Bad Breath

Garlic and onion are the biggest culprits here and brushing your teeth does not usually help to get rid of smell they cause. It is because the substance that causes the bad smell gets to your lungs where you breath it out.

Smoking

Not only smoking can cause you a cancer but it also damages your gums, stains your teeth and causes bad breath. So you have another reason to quit!