Bad breath can be embarrassing, and it’s no secret that a fresh smile is crucial to looking and feeling your best. In this post, we’ll outline some of the most effective ways to get rid of bad breath for good.
We’ll start with some simple tips you can do at home, and then move on to more in-depth solutions that require professional help. With our expertise, the daunting task of oral hygiene will become a thing of the past.
Common Causes of Bad Breath
Bad breath is a problem that plagues millions of patients, and many of those patients don’t even realize it. Not only is it a major turn-off, but it’s also a sign that something’s not quite right in your mouth and throat.
Bad breath can be caused by several things, including:
- Poor oral hygiene: Bad breath is often caused by the buildup of bacteria and plaque on your teeth, which can occur when you neglect to brush or floss regularly.
- Dry mouth: A dry mouth makes it difficult for saliva to neutralize odors, so bad smells tend to linger when your mouth is chronically dry.
- Food: Certain foods, such as onions, garlic, and coffee can cause bad breath. When we eat these foods mouths odor may linger for hours afterward.
- Tobacco products: Smoking or chewing tobacco products can cause bad breath and stained teeth, as well as irritate your gums.
- Medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as gum disease and sinus infections, can cause bad breath. If you have ongoing bad breath that doesn’t go away—even when you’ve brushed your teeth or used mouthwash—it’s a good idea to see your doctor to find out if there is an underlying health problem causing it.
If you’re experiencing bad breath, the best thing to do is to make an appointment with us. We can help you diagnose the cause and recommend the best treatment.
Benefits of Proper Dental Hygiene
Bad breath is the bane of many people’s existence. It can be embarrassing, simply because it’s so hard to talk about. But with proper dental hygiene, you can say goodbye to bad breath—and never have to worry about it again.
Here are some of the top benefits of proper dental hygiene:
- Healthy teeth and gums: Brushing your teeth and flossing daily removes plaque and food particles that can cause tooth decay or gum disease.
- Fresh breath: Good dental hygiene helps prevent halitosis, a condition caused by bacteria in the mouth.
- Reduced risk of tooth loss: Good oral hygiene, coupled with regular visits to the dentist’s office, can help prevent gum disease and tooth decay—the leading causes of tooth loss.
- Improved overall health: Poor oral health is associated with many medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, and respiratory infections.
- Maintaining good dental hygiene can help reduce the risk of these and other health problems.
- Better self-esteem and confidence: A healthy, attractive smile can help boost a person’s self-confidence and make the individual feel more comfortable in social and professional settings.
At-Home Treatments for Freshening Breath
It’s not always easy to say goodbye to bad breath. It can be embarrassing, and it can make you feel like you’re living life in a fishbowl. Fortunately, there are a few at-home treatments you can use to get rid of your bad breath for good.
- Brush your teeth at least once a day with fluoride toothpaste. This will help prevent cavities and bad breath.
- Floss once a day. It’s important to remove the food particles that build up between your teeth.
- After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with water. This will wash away food particles and bacteria that are left over from the cleaning process.
- Drink plenty of water every day. Hydration helps keep your mouth moist and reduces bacteria.
- Use mouthwash. Rinsing with mouthwash can help kill bacteria that cause bad breath and freshen the breath.
- Chew gum or mints. Chewing gum or mints that contain xylitol, a natural sweetener, can help stimulate saliva production, which can neutralize odor-causing bacteria
If bad breath is more of a persistent problem, you might want to consider seeing your dentist for a professional cleaning. This will remove any plaque or tartar that might be causing bad breath. In some cases, you might also need to take measures to address dental problems like gum disease or cavities.
Professional Treatments for Bad Breath
If you’re looking for an immediate solution, professional treatments are the way to go. We offer a variety of treatments that can help rid your mouth of bad breath for good.
- Dental Cleaning: Regular dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar—both of which cause bad breath. During the cleaning, the dentist or hygienist will scrape off any plaque or tartar found on your teeth and then polish them to remove surface stains.
- Gum Therapy: Your dentist may recommend a gum therapy called periodontal cleaning or scaling and root planing to remove bacteria that cause bad breath.
- Tongue Scraping: Your dentist may recommend tongue scraping to remove the build-up of bacteria and debris that can cause bad breath. This is especially important if you have a coated tongue.
- Antimicrobial Mouthwash: You may be prescribed an antimicrobial mouthwash to help kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. This type of mouthwash is typically used in addition to regular brushing and flossing.
- Dentures and Bridges: If you wear dentures or bridges, the dentist may recommend having them professionally cleaned to remove particles and food that can cause bad breath.
You don’t have to suffer from bad breath any longer. We are dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy mouth and fresh breath, so you can enjoy all your favorite foods and activities without worry.
If you are looking for a fresh start, it’s time to say goodbye to bad breath for good.
At The Perio Group, we have helped countless patients cure their bad breath and say goodbye to their embarrassing condition—and we can help you, too. We know that treating your mouth is important, but it’s not enough. You have to get to the root of the problem before you can make any real progress. We will take the time with you to understand the causes of your bad breath so that we can recommend a course of bad breath treatment that will be tailored specifically for you and your needs.
Contact us to see how we can help you overcome your bad breath problem.