Bad breath or halitosis is an embarrassing problem most people don’t care to talk about. It can certainly affect one’s self-confidence and ability to socialize. There can be many factors involving bad breath. Some are odor-causing foods, tooth decay, gum disease, bacteria growing on the tongue, dry mouth, use of tobacco products, sinus or respiratory infections, some medical disorders, improperly cleaned dentures, some medications, or inadequate oral hygiene.To help prevent bad breath, here are some quick tips.
Keep a log of what you eat. It’s a good idea to keep floss, a travel toothbrush and toothpaste in tow. Avoid constant use of breath mints and other hard candies containing sugar. They will only temporarily mask bad breath and can lead to tooth decay. Make a list of over-the-counter and prescribed medications that you take. Some may play a role in causing bad breath especially those that can cause dry mouth.
If you have dry mouth, stick with a mouth rinse without alcohol such as biotene or breath rx. Drinking plenty of water and sucking on sugarless mints help saliva production. Look for ways to cut and eliminate tobacco use. It not only can cause bad breath but stains, de-cay and a higher incidence of oral cancer.
Brush twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove food and plaque. Brush your tongue, too. At least once a day, use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth. It also helps to invest in a battery powered toothbrush. For every one stroke you do manually, it does 20. Therefore, it can be more effective in removing plaque buildup.
If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night. Clean them thoroughly before replac-ing them the next morning. It also helps to clean mouthguards, sport guards and orthodontic retainers regularly. Schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning and checkups at least every 6 months. Our office can help you find solutions to prevent this common source of embarrassment. If it’s due to an oral condition, we can develop a treatment plan to eliminate this problem. Treatment may be easier than you imagine. We want you to have confidence in your oral health!
For more information and meet Dr. May, call the office at 661-505-2926. We are located at 25385 Wayne Mills Pl, Valencia Ca. 91355. Visit us also at www.maycontedds.com.