More Tips to Bust Bad Breath

woman smelling bad breathLast month, we explained how you can usually cure bad breath, or halitosis, by practicing good hygiene and visiting your dentist’s office regularly. Unfortunately for some people, extra attention at the bathroom sink might not help much, especially if they’re not careful with their dental health away from the sink. To help you keep your breath fresh for longer, Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas explain how to prevent or cure bad breath by modifying a few daily habits.

Revisiting the Nature of Bad Breath

To recap, most instances of bad breath are caused by bacteria accumulating in your mouth, mainly on your tongue. Some of these microbes release foul-smelling sulfur compounds when they process nutrients, and when enough of them gather, the bacteria’s gases can overwhelm your mouth and breath. Brushing your teeth, and especially your tongue, at least twice every day helps keep oral bacteria under control, and their byproducts minimal enough to remain unnoticed.

How to Keep Your Breath Fresh, Longer

  • Reach for water more often—Beverages are typically consumed more often than food, and therefore may have a more substantial direct effect on your oral health. Water, which happens to comprise over 99% of your saliva, is the most-preferable beverage for its ability to keep you hydrated without any additives that can feed oral bacteria. Water is also a neutral substance, meaning it can effectively neutralize acids and other harmful substances produced by oral bacteria.
  • Try a well-balanced breakfast—Have you ever wondered why breath seems especially bad in the morning? When you sleep, your saliva production is significantly reduced, and bacteria can gather in force without your saliva rinsing them away. Eating a well-balanced breakfast before brushing your teeth in the morning will help restart your saliva flow, increasing your chances of thoroughly cleaning away bacteria and food debris.
  • Chew sugarless gum—Throughout the day, chewing gum will also help generate your saliva flow. However, make sure it’s sugarless; otherwise, the sugar can feed oral bacteria and increase their ability to multiply. If you suffer from sore jaw muscles, a popping/clicking jaw, or if the repeated chewing motion causes discomfort, then don’t chew gum. Instead, visit Dr. Loukas for an examination to determine if your jaw is inhibited by TMJ disorder.

ABOUT YOUR PARK RIDGE DENTISTS:

Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are highly-skilled general, restorative, and implant dentists serving the Park Ridge and surrounding Chicago communities. To learn more about treating or preventing bad breath, stay tuned to our upcoming blogs, or contact us today by calling Loukas General Dentistry at (847) 696-1919.

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