How to Stop and Prevent Bad Breath

Bad breath is one of those things you don’t want to admit to having, even in a low whisper and even to your closest friend or nearest family member. And they in turn won’t want to tell you that you have it – despite the fact that they smell it every time you open your mouth.

Halitosis is a major problem, affecting your life negatively in terms of relationships, self-image and confidence.

Our local Vancouver dentist have a few tips on stopping or preventing bad breath

Have a good oral hygiene program: Include mouthwashes and toothpastes effective in treating bad breath in your oral care program. Brush your teeth with a soft brush for two minutes morning and evening, and floss once every day. Make sure to clean everywhere that plaque and leftover food debris tend to hide, like on the gum line and between your teeth. Plaque and debris are paradise for the bacteria which are associated with bad breath.

Brush your tongue too. You can use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to brush your tongue, moving from the back of the tongue towards the front. This clears away bacteria that could be responsible for the bad smell.

Between brushings, rinse your mouth regularly throughout the day, especially after eating meat, fish or dairy products.

Keep your mouth from getting dry: If your mouth is dry, it means the saliva, your best defence against halitosis-causing bacteria, does not flow properly. A dry mouth can be caused by speaking for too long; smoking or using alcohol; snoring; some medications and some foods. The way to counteract it is to drink lots of water; stimulate the saliva with sugar free chewing gum, mints or lozenges, or get your dentist’s advice on saliva substitutes.

Watch what you eat: Avoid acidic and sugary foods which create an acidic environment, and dairy products, because lactose intolerance might be behind the smell. Oral products containing laurel sulphate or alcohol are a no-no because they dry the mouth, as is tobacco of any sort.

Try to avoid refined foods and treats full of carbohydrates. Rather go for high fibre foods, and drink green and black teas, because these contain compounds that will reduce oral bacteria.

Introduce oxygen: Stopping bacteria’s smell production in its tracks can be accomplished by introducing oxygen which neutralize the compounds which are involved in producing the odours. Ask your dentist for advice on which mouthwashes and toothpastes contain oxygenating substances.

Don’t take chances

If you suffer from bad breath, you could have a decaying tooth that is causing the smell. See your dentist for a check-up. Your dentist will be able to tell you if your issue is caused by tooth decay and fix the problem once and for all.

Only about 10% of chronic halitosis cases appear to be associated with illnesses, and an even smaller percentage are linked to life-threatening ones. However, you don’t want to take chances as the illnesses involved include some major diseases.

They are: diabetes, HIV, liver, kidney or lung disease, mouth and throat cancer, respiratory tract infections, and metabolic and digestive system disorders. It could also indicate a deficiency in something, like zinc, or dehydration. If you notice anything else going on in your mouth, like white spots or sores in your mouth or on your tonsils, be sure to get it checked out by a doctor or dentist right away.