With Valentine's Day just around the corner, are you confident that your breath is kiss-ready? If not, Access Dental and Dentures has the tips for you to help freshen your breath and keep it smelling fresh long-term. We have the best dental clinics in southern Missouri and we're here to help!
Get Rid of Stuck-On Food
Brushing your teeth twice a day is one of the most important things you can do to keep your oral health and teeth in good condition. Bad breath could mean you aren't brushing your teeth enough or as well as you should be. If bad breath is a problem for you, it could be a good idea to start brushing every time you eat a meal. This can help remove any food particles and germs that would otherwise grow in your mouth and cause bad breath.
Flossing each day is very important also in order to clean the hard-to-reach spaces in your mouth. Stuck food pieces may not always come out with daily brushing, and many toothbrushes can't even reach the space between your teeth. If food particles sit in between your teeth all day or night, they can start to smell due to bacterial growth and buildup. To reduce the chance of this happening, floss at least once a day! It could even be beneficial to run floss through your teeth after every meal.
Flossing each day is very important also in order to clean the hard-to-reach spaces in your mouth. Stuck food pieces may not always come out with daily brushing, and many toothbrushes can't even reach the space between your teeth. If food particles sit in between your teeth all day or night, they can start to smell due to bacterial growth and buildup. To reduce the chance of this happening, floss at least once a day! It could even be beneficial to run floss through your teeth after every meal.
Replace Your Toothbrush and/or Toothpaste
Your toothbrush may be the problem if you have consistently bad breath. As your toothbrush gets old and worn out, it can start to grow bacteria and become a source of bad odors itself. This is not something you want to be brushing all over your mouth. Gross! Your toothbrush should be replaced every three months. But, keep in mind, if you are a more aggressive brusher or if you buy brands that wear out more quickly, you may want to replace it more often. Check regularly to see if bristles have started thinning, losing color, or bending. That means it's time to replace it.
You also want to use a good toothpaste that is actually cleaning your teeth and protecting them from cavities. You may like the look or "flavor" of a particular toothpaste, but it's important to make sure whatever kind you're using has the active ingredient "fluoride" in it. If not, then it may be brushing away stains, but it definitely isn't protecting your teeth from decay.
Clean the Rest of Your Mouth Too!
Your teeth are just a fraction of the surface area inside of your mouth. You might be regularly flossing and brushing your teeth, but if you aren't doing anything for your gums, cheeks, tongue, the roof of your mouth, and more... then you could be missing a lot of germs.
Add these habits to your daily dental hygiene routine for a cleaner, fresher mouth:
- Use a tongue-scraper to remove bacteria and dead cells from your tongue.
- Gently brush the roof of your mouth and your cheeks for the same purpose.
- Use a mouth wash to destroy any bacteria that could be hiding other places in your mouth and causing bad breath.
- Carry breath fresheners with you for on-the-go fresh breath in case of a kissing emergency. 😉
Stay Hydrated!
Drinking water is not only helpful to your teeth because of the fluoride content, but it can also help flush out bacteria, food pieces, and bad smells. If you mouth is dry, it could be prone to bad breath. Saliva is an important factor in keeping your breath fresh and bacteria away. If you are dehydrated, the dryness in your mouth could be allowing bacteria to flourish. Ew!
Don't Skip the Dentist
You might be tempted to skip your dentist appointments. Maybe you think that appointments are inconvenient or that you take care of your teeth enough on your own. But you can't tell on your own if your enamel has become weak in some areas, making you more prone to cavities. You also can't tell if there is a more serious issue causing your bad breath without a check-up from a dentist. If you still suffer from bad breath even when you follow all the good habits we talked about, then there could be something else going on. Let Access Dental and Dentures help! We can take a look at your teeth and find out if there are any serious issues causing your bad breath. Call today to schedule your next appointment: 1-877-DENTIST
We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!
1-877-DENTIST
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