How Do I Get Rid Of Bad Breath? Effective Tips

Good breath is an essential component of having healthy teeth. Having halitosis (bad breath) can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition to experience. It can negatively impact your social and professional life. 

Brushing your teeth after you eat

After you’re done eating a meal, brushing your teeth will remove the lingering food particles and neutralize acids that start damaging teeth soon after you’re finished eating. When you brush immediately after eating, your mouth has the best chance of avoiding tooth decay from plaque buildup. When you don’t brush your teeth right away, you increase the chances of tooth erosion, cavities, and bacterial buildup in the mouth that causes bad breath.

If brushing your teeth right after meals isn’t possible, opt for rinsing with water or a mouthwash to dislodge the food particles from your mouth and rinse out the mouth completely. The fluoride in mouthwash helps strengthen your teeth’s enamel and protect them from acid damage.

Flossing at least once a day

When you eat food, it mixes with bacteria in your mouth and causes bad breath. Using floss will help remove that food debris and neutralize the bacteria. You should brush your teeth after every meal, but you can’t always reach the back of your teeth for cleaning. That’s where flossing comes in.

If some of the food particles remain stuck between your teeth, they can start to rot and cause bad breath. What’s more, food particles can get stuck in your gum line and not come out when you brush your teeth. That can lead to gum disease over time.

Brushing your tongue

Cleaning the tongue helps kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. Most people forget to brush their tongues, so consider purchasing a tongue scraper. Simply use the scraper to scrape the surface of your tongue each morning after you brush your teeth. You can also invest in a toothbrush that has a built-in tongue cleaner on the head of the toothbrush. Using a tongue scraper or mouth rinse with oxygenating ingredients can help freshen your breath throughout the day.

We recommend replacing your toothbrush every three to four months or after recovering from an illness. You should also replace your toothbrush if you notice it is fraying at the bristles. This may mean it is no longer effectively removing plaque from your teeth. It’s also important to regularly change your toothbrush if you or someone in your family is sick. Bacteria can remain on the toothbrush even after cleaning it. Your dentist can examine your oral health and let you know how often you should replace toothbrushes.

Cleaning dental appliances

You should clean your oral appliance every day, just like you would brush your teeth. Plaque and bacteria can build up on your appliance just like they can on your teeth, so wash your appliance every morning when you wake up and clean it thoroughly before you go to bed. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a denture brush to clean the surface of your appliance and soak it in denture cleaner at night. Using a soft-bristled brush to remove plaque from the surface of the elastics will help to keep your device fitting properly and reduce irritation.

Avoiding dry mouth

There are a number of reasons this can occur in the mouth and your dentist can help you determine the cause and give you tips to prevent it. A dry mouth can be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems, tobacco use, alcohol use, dehydration, or other medical conditions like depression or diabetes. If left untreated, it can cause bad breath, tooth decay, and other serious health problems.

If you suffer from chronic dry mouth, your dentist will regularly check you for signs of gingivitis and gum disease. Visit the dentist for regular checkups and brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily as part of your oral care routine.

You can visit our office at 3550 S 5600 W #3, Salt Lake City, UT 84120, and get to know our team here. For bookings, call us at (801) 966-3166.