Bad breath (formerly known as halitosis) can cause significant distress and it’s a common problem that many people struggle to address. Halitosis is a common reason why people seek to visit the dentist, and with good reason. This is because halitosis can cause adverse oral health conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease.
How to reduce halitosis is one of the common questions people have, and this question will be answered here.
Where Does Halitosis Come From?
A poor oral routine is a common cause of halitosis. This stems from things such as not brushing your teeth twice a day, not rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash or not flossing your teeth. When this happens, particles of food owing to meals are left in the mouth. This accumulates bacteria build-up, a source of halitosis. Saliva isn’t always a solution that can wash down food from your mouth.
Other causes of halitosis tobacco. What tobacco also increases is gum disease. Therefore, if you’re a regular smoker, the bad odour will get stronger.
How Can I Reduce Halitosis?
Through the following oral routine steps, you can reduce halitosis:
- Brushing Twice A Day – Make sure that you brush your gums and teeth when you wake up and before you sleep. This will keep the mouth clean and fresh from bacteria overnight.
- Flossing – Food particles can become stuck in the teeth to cause halitosis. Flossing can help to remove these stubborn particles to keep your mouth clean.
- Perform Tongue Scraping – Bacteria usually lands on the tongue and this is where the bad odour stems from as bacteria build-up. Tongue scraping can r
emove the bad odour by scraping away the bacteria for fresher breath. Start tongue scraping today! - Use Mouthwash – Mouthwash contains menthol and alcoholic properties (non-alcoholic mouthwashes are also available) that kill any bacterial germs in the mouth, leaving you with fresh breath.
- Stop Smoking – If you’re a regular smoker, it is a good idea to initially reduce your smoking intake because tobacco is a source of halitosis. Tobacco can also attribute to gums disease.
To reduce halitosis, it starts at home. Professional cleanings will halt bad odour in the mouth, but only temporarily. To keep it up, you need to start managing your oral routine at home for better results.
We at Integrated Smiles Bendigo will gladly help you reduce halitosis and keep your teeth and gums strong by offering the advice you need. Simply contact us to book yourself in for a check-up today!
