Whether you’re going on an important job interview, meeting someone on a first date, or visiting with family, nobody wants to be known for their bad breath. Technically called halitosis, bad breath can be a sign of poor oral hygiene, dehydration, or more serious medical conditions, such as tonsillitis. If you experience bad breath, here are four tips you can use to improve your bad breath for good.
Clean Your Tongue
As you brush your teeth, you remove a layer of biofilm that’s on your teeth. But as you brush your teeth, do you clean your tongue? A lot of bacteria can live on your tongue. Using a tongue scraper or simply brushing your tongue with your regular toothbrush and toothpaste can remove some of the bacteria that live on your tongue. This can reduce bad breath.
Floss More
One area where patients often skimp is flossing. They say that flossing is difficult and tedious. If you have bad breath, flossing more often can help remove debris and plaque from your mouth to improve your breath. It is also a good oral hygiene habit to maintain. Start by committing to flossing twice a day. As you floss more, you’ll have less tartar, plaque, and food particles to floss away. You can also consider using a water pick or interdental brushes to get difficult to reach parts of your teeth. Your dental hygienist and dentist are more than happy to answer any questions you might have regarding proper flossing.
Avoid Cigarettes
Tobacco is a big contributor of bad breath. It can also dry out your mouth, which leads to bad breath. For this reason and many other health and finance-related reasons, it is worth quitting smoking, either cold turkey or through a formal smoking cessation program. Any tobacco products, including cigars, can contribute to bad breath. It is best to avoid smoking, even if you only smoke occasionally. More research is needed to determine whether vaping and e-cigarettes cause bad breath. If you’re experiencing bad breath and vape, you may want to discontinue its use to see if that resolves it.
Visit Your Dentist
There are so many reasons why people have bad breath. Scheduling an appointment with your dentist might be the fastest way to find a cure. Your dentist will be able to determine the cause of your bad breath and recommend the most effective treatment possible. For instance, gum disease requires different treatment than dehydration. Only a professional dentist will be able to figure out what’s causing the bad breath.
Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer from bad breath for long. By scheduling an appointment with a dentist, you can find quick relief. Contact Dr. Munroe's Dental Center at 860-482-4041 to schedule your first appointment with a reliable and experienced dentist.