What Can You Do About Bad Breath?

Bad breath, alternatively called halitosis, is an embarrassing condition that even causes anxiety in some cases. You might notice store shelves stocked with mints, mouthwashes, gum, and other products created to address the problem of bad breath. However, the products displayed on the shelves of supermarkets for temporary measures because they don’t address the root cause of the issue.

Certain foods, health issues, and lifestyle habits are the primary causes of bad breath, which in many cases can be improved with constant excellent dental hygiene. However, if self-care techniques are not helpful, you must seek help from the dentist in Phoenix for a remedy to manage and overcome the problem.

Symptoms Of Bad Breath

The odors of lousy breath vary depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Many people are concerned about the smell even when they are not affected. On the other hand, many people with this condition don’t even know about it unless someone else points it out to them. Assessing your bad breath yourself is challenging and might require help from a friend or family member to confirm your questions.

When Must You Visit Your Dentist?

If you think you are affected by bad breath, you must schedule an appointment with the dental office near you after reviewing your oral hygiene habits. Make lifestyle changes like brushing your teeth and tongue after eating, flossing, and drinking plenty of water.

If your bad breath persists after making the lifestyle changes, you can discuss the issue with your dentist. If the professional suspects a severe problem is causing your bad breath, they might refer you to a physician to determine its cause.

Causes of Bad Breath

Food and poor dental hygiene as the primary causes of developing bad breath. If you neglect to brush and floss to allow plaque buildup over your teeth, you become susceptible to gum disease, another culprit for this condition.

Infections in your mouth such as oral surgery, tooth extractions, and mouth sores are also a reason for halitosis.

While the condition is not life-threatening, bad breath can cause embarrassment and give the impression that you are not caring for your mouth appropriately. In addition, the condition can aggravate social situations when there are plenty of people around you, making it challenging for you to remain aloof. Therefore you must make every effort to overcome this condition and regain your confidence in moving around with people without hanging your head in shame.

How to Overcome Bad Breath?

When visiting dental professionals, they will undoubtedly recommend various measures to overcome the problem of bad breath. Unfortunately, the problem doesn’t disappear by itself overnight unless you make some efforts at home to improve your situation. Here are some home remedies you can use every day to improve the situation you confront.

• Brush and Floss More Often: the sticky buildup of dental plaque over your teeth with bacteria is a prime culprit of bad breath. Food particulars trapped between your teeth also help aggravate the issue. Brushing your teeth two times every day and flossing them at least once is an excellent technique to battle bad breath at home and overcome the problem. You can even brush more often than recommended without overdoing the practice to prevent damage to your tooth enamel and make them susceptible to decay.
• Scrape Your Tongue: the coating that generally forms over your tongue is a host of bacteria. You can get rid of the bacteria by gently brushing your tongue with your toothbrush. Alternatively can also use a tongue scraper designed to apply pressure across the surface of the tongue.
• Avoid Foods That Sour Your Breath: the biggest offenders of lousy breath are onion and garlic. Unfortunately, brushing after eating them doesn’t help eliminate the odor. Therefore the optimal method of avoiding them is to limit their intake or avoid them altogether when going to work or meeting friends.
• Kick the Tobacco Habit: Tobacco, besides causing cancer, can also damage your gums, discolor your teeth and give you bad breath. Therefore, you might require help to manage smoking cessation. However, if you discuss the issue with your dentist, they will happily provide the assistance you need to kick the habit for good.
• Keep Your Gums Healthy: Keeping your gums in healthy condition shouldn’t be a significant challenge if you follow excellent dental hygiene practices and visit your dentist for six-monthly dental exams and cleanings. These practices help you eliminate plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and below the gum line and prevent the development of bad breath.

If you need help with halitosis and think you are dealing with a severe condition scheduling an appointment with On Pointe Dentistry can help you overcome the problem by providing effective remedies to deal with the situation.