Bad Breath Treatment
Do You Have Bad Breath?
Bad breath can be embarrassing and tough on those around you.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grow in the mouth. When you don't brush and floss regularly, bacteria accumulate on the bits of food left in your mouth and between your teeth. The sulfur compounds released by these bacteria make your breath smell.
80% of bad breath comes from an oral source. For instance, cavities or gum disease can lead to bad breath, as can tonsils that have trapped food particles; cracked fillings, and less-than-clean dentures.
Several internal medical conditions also can cause your breath to go downhill fast. They include diabetes, liver disease, respiratory tract infections, and chronic bronchitis.
What to do?:
1. See Dr Mary O’Neill regularly.
2. Good oral hygiene is the key to fighting bad breath. Ideally, you should brush and floss after every meal to help reduce the odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. Most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just doesn't cut it. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to brush your tongue, too — bacteria love to hang out there. It's equally important to floss because brushing alone won't remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gums.
We also recommend to use electric toothbrush because many electric toothbrushes have timers on them and the majority of people do not brush their teeth for the right length of time. And secondly, because electric toothbrushes distribute a uniform motion, which we find helps remove plaque more efficiently than manual toothbrushes.
Some mouthwashes or mouth rinses can help prevent cavities and reduce bacteria-causing plaque and fight bad breath. Stick to an antiseptic or antibacterial alcohol free rinse that kills bacteria, rather than a cosmetic rinse that just focuses on freshening the breath.
There is also some ways to help to avoid bad breath:
If you brush and floss properly and visit Dr O'Neill for regular cleanings, but your bad breath persists, you may have a medical problem like sinusitis or stomach problem. Call us on 014977478 if you suspect a problem. We can figure out if something else is behind your bad breath and help you take care of it.
Bad breath can be embarrassing and tough on those around you.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grow in the mouth. When you don't brush and floss regularly, bacteria accumulate on the bits of food left in your mouth and between your teeth. The sulfur compounds released by these bacteria make your breath smell.
80% of bad breath comes from an oral source. For instance, cavities or gum disease can lead to bad breath, as can tonsils that have trapped food particles; cracked fillings, and less-than-clean dentures.
Several internal medical conditions also can cause your breath to go downhill fast. They include diabetes, liver disease, respiratory tract infections, and chronic bronchitis.
What to do?:
1. See Dr Mary O’Neill regularly.
2. Good oral hygiene is the key to fighting bad breath. Ideally, you should brush and floss after every meal to help reduce the odor-causing bacteria in your mouth. Most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just doesn't cut it. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to brush your tongue, too — bacteria love to hang out there. It's equally important to floss because brushing alone won't remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gums.
We also recommend to use electric toothbrush because many electric toothbrushes have timers on them and the majority of people do not brush their teeth for the right length of time. And secondly, because electric toothbrushes distribute a uniform motion, which we find helps remove plaque more efficiently than manual toothbrushes.
Some mouthwashes or mouth rinses can help prevent cavities and reduce bacteria-causing plaque and fight bad breath. Stick to an antiseptic or antibacterial alcohol free rinse that kills bacteria, rather than a cosmetic rinse that just focuses on freshening the breath.
There is also some ways to help to avoid bad breath:
- Watch what you eat. What you eat affects what you exhale. That's because as food is digested, it's absorbed into your bloodstream and then is expelled by your lungs when you breathe. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and regular meals. Certain diets -- such as extreme fasting and very low-carb diets -- can give you bad-smelling breath. Consider snacking on raw carrots, celery, or apple slices. "It's good to have a nice watery vegetable in there - something like celery - that will help clear your mouth of debris. Certain foods, especially ones like garlic and onions that contain pungent oils, can contribute to bad breath because the oils are carried to your lungs and out through your mouth.
- Stay hydrated. If you can't brush your teeth after a meal, drinking a lot of water can help speed up the process of cleaning harmful bacteria and debris from between your teeth. Drinking milk can even help deodorize some offensive breath odors. Avoid sugary drinks.
- Don't drink too much coffee. It may be tasty, but coffee is a tough smell to get off the back of your tongue. Consider switching to an herbal or green tea.
- Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. Cigarettes, pipes and snuff can foul your breath.
- Cut back on alcohol. Alcohol can lead to a dry mouth.
- Chew sugarfreegum. Doing so 20 minutes after a meal can help with saliva flow. Gum that's 100% xylitol-sweetened can help reduce cavities, but it's also kind of cooling and gives you really nice fresh breath.
- Be careful with breath mints. Sugar-free mints are OK for a quick fix but only mask the offensive smell and don't do anything to remove harmful bad bacteria. Tempted to pick up a sugary mint as you leave your favorite restaurant? Don't. The sugar will only sit on your teeth and make the problem worse.
If you brush and floss properly and visit Dr O'Neill for regular cleanings, but your bad breath persists, you may have a medical problem like sinusitis or stomach problem. Call us on 014977478 if you suspect a problem. We can figure out if something else is behind your bad breath and help you take care of it.
