Bad Breath – Causes and Treatment

Bad breath affects billions of people on the planet every year. Sometimes it’s as simple as a case of forgetting to brush in the morning, and other times it’s a chronic condition that lasts for years. In either case, bad breath is something that nobody looks forward to. It’s unpleasant and can make you unpleasant to be around as a result.

The best way to avoid chronic bad breath from conditions like gingivitis, gum disease, or tooth decay is to see your dentist on a regular basis and get any problems fixed as soon as possible. In between visits to the dentist, though, there are a few things that you can do to keep bad breath at bay and hopefully lead a normal, fulfilling life free of the plague of bad breath.

Floss Your Teeth

Every dentist recommends flossing, but very few people actually take it up as a daily habit. Even though most people brush their teeth several times during the day, flossing is just hard to pick up for some reason. It takes longer than brushing and requires more careful attention to what you’re doing. You are supposed to floss twice a day at least, but many people end up only doing it once or twice a week – basically whenever they remember.

Why Flossing is Important

Flossing is important because it picks out the little food particles that get trapped in between the teeth. Brushing is great for pulling away the surface particles, but it can’t get down into the cracks and crevices between teeth to dislodge the pieces of food that get stuck there. If the food stays there long enough, it will start to decay and produce extremely unpleasant halitosis (bad breath). Even worse, the bacteria that cause the food to decay will start to work on the surrounding areas as well, namely your teeth and gums. Once that happens it’s extremely hard to get rid of the resulting bad breath, even if you get rid of the initial food particles that made it happen in the first place. By that point, the bacteria already have another food source, one that you can’t brush away.

Use Mouthwash

Mouthwash does a lot more than just give your breath a minty scent. Alcohol-based mouthwashes kill the bacteria that cause bad breath, effectively taking out the problem and the symptoms in one fell swoop. This can kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease too, so it’s extremely beneficial in a number of ways. You can ask your local Boynton Beach dentist about a good brand of mouthwash to use if you’re unsure what to buy.

Ask Your Dentist

Finally, if all else fails you should speak to your dentist about the best route to take to get rid of bad breath. Sometimes flossing and mouthwash just don’t cut it when you’re dealing with certain types of bacteria, and it could be something more serious that’s causing your bad breath. A little professional help can go a long way.

Also Read: The Importance of Flossing your Teeth