For people who suffer from bad breath, it can actually be really debilitating and upsetting. Halitosis (the proper name) can linger on and on and cause disruption and frustration, especially if you don’t understand why or where it has come from. So, how can you get to the bottom of the bad breath blues? Your dentist Dublin is the place to turn to.
The Science Bit
Our mouths are actually filled with thousands and thousands of bacteria, and because of all these bacteria, in most cases, the actual cause of bad breath is simply bad bacteria and a dirty mouth. Food gets trapped between our teeth all the time, particularly along the gum line, which is a real hotbed for all the bacteria we really don’t want. This area is very often neglected when cleaning as lots of people still don’t engage in regular flossing.
Of course, there are other reasons for bad breath, such as the consumption of strong-smelling foods. And there are medical reasons too, as some medications actually dry out the mouth, and the lack of saliva causes bad breath.
Diagnosis
When it comes to bad breath, the most important thing you can do is determine the cause; if it’s being caused by poor oral care, you need to know. If it’s being caused by medication, you need to know. If it’s being caused by a medical condition, yah you guessed it – YOU NEED TO KNOW! And who can give you this info… your dentist. Your dentist will be able to give you a quick inspection to find the source of the smell, and from there, you can work on a plan of action together.
Top Tips To Improve Your Breath
Here’s a little overview of things you can do to keep your breath minty fresh.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND FLOSS
It’s still so common for people to brush once a day and not floss, and this is a big mistake not only for your breath but for your general oral health. Flossing and brushing will get rid of the hard-to-reach bacteria if done correctly and regularly. If you’re unsure about any techniques, there are hundreds of online sources with all the information you need.
CLEAN YOUR TONGUE
People forget that their tongues are a part of their mouth and, as such, should be counted into their oral hygiene routines. It doesn’t take much to clean your tongue, just a little toothpaste and a good scrub. You can take tongue health to new heights if you engage in tongue scraping.
STAY HYDRATED
As we’ve already touched on, if you don’t stay hydrated, your mouth will start to smell. Saliva keeps the mouth smelling fresh, which is why you get ‘morning breath’ after sleep. Salvia constantly cleans your mouth without you realising it, so drink up.
BE MINDFUL
Eat what you want, but just be mindful that certain foods will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth; it’s not going to do you any harm to carry a travel toothbrush and use it after meals.
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