Worried of Bad Breath? Dr. Sagar Shah Recommends Simple Tips on Oral Hygiene

Keep Bad Breath At Bay This Season

Socialising and wedding season is at its peak right now. The last thing you want is others having to deal with your odor (having poor oral health) through the entire event. While we all go through it at some point, the important thing to note here is how we can keep it in check not only this season but in the future too.

Dr. Sagar Shah, Cosmetic and Implant Dentist at 32 Reasons, breaks down the reason for bad breathe and how one can overcome this problem.

What causes bad breath?

There can be numerous reasons for bad breath.  Usually, bad breath can be the result of poor oral hygiene. Once bacteria build up in our mouth, the toxins produced by them can cause bad breath.

Having a persistent bad breath can sometimes be a sign of gum disease. Consuming strongly flavoured foods, such as onions and garlic, can also cause your breath to smell. Even smoking and drinking alcohol can be one of the reasons and also has the potential to aggravate the problem.

Causes of Bad Breath

There are various possible causes which can cause bad breath. They include:

• Food we eat
• Tobacco products
• Poor dental hygiene
• Dry mouth
• Medications
• Infections in your mouth
• Crash Diets

 

How can one avoid the bad breath?

A few changes in Lifestyle and home remedies for bad breath include:

• Brushing the teeth: Make sure to brush at least twice a day, preferably after each meal.
• Floss: The Flossing process reduces the build-up and cluttering of food particles and plaque between the teeth. By brushing, we can only clean around 60 percent of the surface of the tooth.
• Clean the dentures: Make a habit to clean everything that goes into your mouth, including dentures, a bridge, or a mouth guard. The dentures should be cleaned on a daily basis. Cleaning helps in preventing the bacteria from building up and being transferred back into the mouth. A Change in toothbrush every 2 to 3 months is also recommended and important for similar reasons.
• Brush your tongue: A tongue scraper can be helpful sometimes particularly who has a dry mouth or is a smoker. Brushing the tongue helps in removing Bacteria, food, and dead cells that commonly build upon the tongue.
• Avoid going your mouth dry: One should drink plenty of water. One should avoid alcohol and tobacco, both of which can dehydrate the mouth. One can chew a piece of gum or suck a sweet, preferably sugar-free, which help in stimulating the production of saliva. A doctor may prescribe medication that stimulates the flow of saliva if the mouth is chronically dry.
• Diet:  One should avoid onions, garlic, and spicy food. Sugary foods can also result in bad breath. Reduce the consumption of coffee and alcohol. Also, eating a breakfast that includes rough foods can help clean the back of the tongue.

If the breath odor persists despite controlling these above factors, it is always recommended that an individual should visit a doctor for further tests to rule out other conditions.

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