TOP TEN TIPS

For improving your breath

  1. Brush twice each day. Better yet, brush after every meal. If you eat lunch at work or school, keep an extra toothbrush there. Also, be sure to replace your toothbrush regularly.
  2. Reach between your teeth. Flossing daily helps you remove food particles from between your teeth, where your toothbrush just can’t reach. Flossing also helps keep your gums healthy, preventing periodontal disease, which can also lead to bad breath. If using regular floss is difficult for you, try an interdental cleaner.
  3. Pick up an oral irrigator. Along with floss, an oral irrigator reaches spots your toothbrush can’t, like under your tongue and into the back of your mouth.
  4. Treat your tongue right. Bacteria can gather on the surface of your tongue, so use a tongue scraper to clean it every time you brush.
  5. Chew (sugarless) gum. The act of chewing stimulates the production of saliva, which naturally washes away bacteria and food particles. If you suffer from a lack of saliva due to “dry mouth,” a condition sometimes caused by medication, let us know; we can help address the problem.
  6. Don’t fall for the myth of mouthwash. Most mouthwashes merely mask the smell of bad breath and do nothing to solve the underlying problem.
  7. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink water regularly to keep your mouth moist, and go easy on alcohol and caffeine, both of which are dehydrating.
  8. Avoid tobacco. Smoking and chewing tobacco lead to bad breath. They also increase your risk of a host of serious health problems, from periodontal disease to cancer.
  9. Take note of what you take in. Certain diets, foods and medications can affect your breath. If your problem doesn’t appear to be oral, make a list of the foods you eat and medications you take. Review it with us or your family doctor to assess the source of the problem.
  10. Contact us. It’s important to have your teeth professionally checked and cleaned twice a year. We can give your teeth a thorough cleaning that isn’t possible at home, as well as check for and treat early signs of problems such as cavities or periodontal disease.