Bad breath getting in the way of things?

The really insidious thing about bad breath is that you are unlikely to be aware you have it unless someone is kind enough (yes, seriously kind enough!) to tell you. You’d be surprised how reluctant people are to broach the subject of bad breath, even if they know you really well. So what do you do about it? Prevention is your best defence.

So what causes bad breath? In a word – bacteria! Annoyingly your mouth is the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish, so what can you do? Fortunately plenty.

Here are our top tips for keeping your breath as fresh as possible.

1. Drink up! – The first natural barrier to bad breath is your saliva. Without it, you’ll get ‘dry mouth’ – yes it’s a real thing. A dry mouth is a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria that cause bad breath. The more hydrated you are, the better, so drink plenty of water.

2. Nix the sugar – You might think popping a mint will help to sweeten your breath. Right? Uh-uh. Sugary mints, when mixed with bacteria, create a perfect storm for stinky breath. Instead, try sugar-free mints, mouth sprays, and sugar-free gum as a quick fix. It won’t get rid of the cause of the problem, but at least your friends will be grateful in the short term.

3. Keep it green – No we’re not talking solar panels here. The antimicrobials in green tea work like a natural deodorant for your mouth, minimizing those nasty sulphur compounds that cause bad breath. A cup of green tea, without sugar of course, might just be what the dentist ordered.

4. Tongue scraper – No it’s not a derogatory term. It’s a handy little device that can be a key weapon in your arsenal to combat festering breath. Scrapers are more effective for cleaning tongues than toothbrushes.

5. Keep it clean please! – Poor oral hygiene is the biggest cause of bad breath. So, if you can pardon the pun, you know the drill: brush your teeth twice a day, floss, and (if you prefer) use an antiseptic mouthwash at least once daily to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums.
6. Time for a check-up – A common cause of bad breath is periodontal disease. So just what is periodontal disease? It is an accumulation of tartar on your teeth, and only your dentist can remove it. So if bad breath persists it’s time to see your friendly DBay Dental dentist for a ‘scale and clean’.

So there we are, some simple and effective ways to combat bad breath. Let’s hope that bad breath no longer gets in the way of things for you!