It’s hard to think of a sparkling fresh mouth on a hot summer day, but breath can be fresh all year round. First, form and maintain excellent dental hygiene habits. Brush twice a day (and after meals, if practical.) Floss properly. Make and keep general dentistry (check up) appointments, so your dentist and dental hygienist can look closely at your teeth and mouth. Their expert eyes can alert you to problems that may affect breath odor. Good oral care is vital, but there are other changes that can help keep breath fresh.
Drink More Water
Water does a body good, in lots of ways. Water helps keep your smile healthy. It rinses away food particles before oral bacterial gets to work. One source of bad breath is when microscopic bits of food become trapped on tooth surfaces and between teeth. As these bits of food undergo the nature process of decay, breath odor can form. Water supplements the natural production of saliva, and both water and saliva help keep your mouth clean and breath odor at bay
Brush Your tongue
Just as food particles can linger on and between teeth, so they can stick to the tongue. Gently brushing your tongue when you brush your teeth will remove the particles. Work from the far back of your tongue to the front, with gentle pressure. A tongue scraper can also be used to clean the tongue. Talk to your dentist or dental hygienist if you are interested in knowing if a tongue scraper is right for you.
Change Your Diet
Certain foods are known for contributing to breath odor. Onions, garlic and members of the allium family have a chemical that not only lingers in the mouth, but is absorbed into the blood stream. That means you can be breathing out odor from the lungs, even if you have carefully brushed after eating. Caffeinated drinks, beer, wine and all liquor slow saliva production and can cause stale breath. Any food with a strong odor (think fish, for example) will also affect the breath, at least in the short term. Avoid these foods when breath needs to be at its best.
ABOUT YOUR LONGVIEW, TX, DENTISTS:
At DentaCare Dental in Longview, TX, we focus on advanced technology, education, and comfort to offer every patient a pleasant experience and excellent dental care. To schedule a consultation, call our Longview, TX, office today at (903) 758-5921. For optimal convenience, we also serve patients at our other location in Tyler, TX.