How to Combat Chronic Bad Breath
For many of our patients, chronic bad breath (halitosis) is an issue that affects their everyday lives. It can undermine their confidence when talking with friends, family members, and coworkers.
Chronic bad breath is usually the result of not brushing and flossing enough, smoking, or taking certain medications. However, to determine the true cause of your lingering bad breath, you may want to call our Columbus dentist to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.
For your convenience, we have listed ways to help you combat chronic bad breath. At Gibson Dental, our specialty dentists make it our mission to help clients smile with confidence.
Brush and Floss More
The most common cause of chronic bad breath is not adopting a thorough enough . At Gibson Dental, we have found that most of our patients experience better breath when they start brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once daily.
After meals, the food particles left on your teeth eventually decay and release a bad odor. By upping your dental hygiene game, you will not only prevent bad breath, but cleanse your teeth of any cavity-causing bacteria.
Brush or Scrape Your Tongue
A lot of our patients notice fresher breath when they brush their tongue with their toothbrush once a day. By doing this, you are ridding your tongue of harmful oral bacteria that can build up over time, especially after eating smelly foods. Alternatively, you can also opt for a tongue scraper, which is sold in most supermarkets.
Drink More Water
during the day can help you keep away bad breath. Certain medications can reduce saliva production, creating the perfect conditions for odor-causing bacteria to flourish. Rinse away this harmful bacteria by drinking more water, especially after meals.
Over-the-counter, effective mouth rinses can also facilitate the production of saliva. Be sure to ask our certified dentist about what product will work best for your unique situation.
Chew Sugarless Gum
While an after-dinner mint may seem like a good idea, the sugar can actually undermine your best efforts towards having fresh breath. The bacteria that produce bad breath feed on sugar. One of your body’s natural defenses against these bacteria is saliva, and encourages your mouth to produce saliva. The saliva will help wash away bacteria that promotes bad breath.
See Your Dentist or Doctor
If your chronic breath still persists after following our basic tips, you may want to consider reaching out to our dentist or your primary care physician. Chronic bad breath can sometimes indicate a larger problem, such as acid reflux, which needs to be addressed by a medical professional.
Make an Appointment
If you would like to make an appointment with our dentist in Columbus, Ohio, please feel free to call our office at (614) 878-9562. At Gibson Dental, we work hard to make sure that you feel comfortable and confident with your smile.
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This blog post has been updated.