A temporarily putrid mouth after eating foods such as onion, garlic, and other foods with a strong smell is absolutely normal. However, bad breath is not always a result of eating certain foods. The reason lies more in oral hygiene than diet.
The root cause of bad breath or Halitosis lies in the bacteria residing under the gum line and on the tongue. These bacteria feed on the plaque. When the plaque isn’t cleaned off properly, these bacteria can cause various dental problems as well as bad breath.
If you suffer from this problem, you would know how embarrassing the problem could be. However, the good news is that bad breath is easily preventable and reversible. Here are some tips straight from a dentist that will help you fight bad breath:
Maintain good oral hygiene
The most obvious thing to do in order to prevent bad breath is to remove the plaque build-up on your teeth. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to brush twice a day and floss once a day. Once your mouth is plaque-free, it will not be a breeding ground for bacteria, and you will not have bad breath.
Scrape or brush your tongue
Do not neglect cleaning your tongue, as it can be a breeding ground for bacteria. While cleaning the tongue, you should ensure that you clean the entire tongue and not just the tip. You can use your toothbrush to clean your tongue or buy a simple plastic tongue scraper for the job.
Cavity treatment
when the tooth decays, and a cavity develops, the area can become prone to stuck food particles, plaque build-up, and the growth of bacteria. So, it is important to get the cavities filled to prevent tooth decay and bacterial growth. Once you get the dental fillings, you will immediately notice a difference in bad breath.
Use anti-bacterial toothpaste and mouthwash.
If you are prone to bacterial build-up and bad breath, you should consider switching to an anti-bacterial toothpaste and mouthwash. While regular toothpaste works fine to keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh, an anti-bacterial toothpaste has extra ingredients to fight bacteria. You may also buy a mouthwash that contains antibacterial agents. The mouthwash can instantly clean your mouth and refresh your breath. Apart from using anti-bacterial toothpaste and mouthwash, you should also drink more water and consume more probiotics (more about this in the next point). This will keep bacterial growth in check and keep your breath fresh.
Consume more probiotics
Poor oral hygiene is not the only cause of bad breath. In some cases, unbalanced intestinal flora can also be the culprit. Due to the lack of digestive enzymes, the food won’t get broken down properly and would emit a foul odor that can travel to the mouth. The easiest way to rebalance intestinal flora and promote digestive enzymes is to consume foods rich in probiotics or good bacteria. These include pickles, yogurt, kimchi, and others.
Regular dental check-ups
Routine dental check-ups can keep all dental problems at bay and ensure good dental and oral health. This will prevent bad breath from occurring in the first place. If there is a chance of such a condition happening in the future, your dentist will most likely prevent it from happening. Visiting a dental clinic can prevent you from most dental complications.
If you are suffering from the embarrassing problem of bad breath and regular brushing and flossing doesn’t seem to help, it is best to consult your dentist. The dentist will be able to diagnose the exact cause of the problem and recommend the right course of treatment. If need immediate help contact our team, and we will get you the right treatment and recommendations.
