Bad Breath: Why you have it and how we can help you.
When you chow down on your favourite foods, you’re also treating the bacteria in your mouth to a great meal. When they snack on the food left behind after your last meal they release foul-smelling odors as a by-product, causing bad breath.
Cleaning your teeth after every meal greatly reduces smells left behind. This includes brushing, flossing, and using a mouth wash, such as Lysterine.
Certain foods and beverages can also increase the likelihood of bad breath. Things like garlic, onions, coffee, alcohol, and sugary foods and drinks cultivate bad breath. Instead, choose foods high in water content such as carrots, celery, and apples which work like a “natural tooth brush” and scrub plaque bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth. Drinking water regularly also helps by washing away food debris and increasing saliva flow in your mouth.
Morning breath is a problem we all face. During the day our saliva works to wash away food debris and keep bacteria in check, however, at night our saliva production goes down – causing our mouths to become dry and creating the perfect breeding ground for odor.
The best way to keep your morning breath in check is to follow a good oral hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing before bed and when you wake in the morning are great preventative measures, but also using a tongue scraper and keeping a glass of water at your bedside to keep your mouth moisturized through the night.
Bad breath is manageable but if the severity doesn’t lessen after taking these preventative steps it may be a sign of a larger problem. Gum disease, diabetes, sinus problems, gastric reflux, and liver or kidney disease can all present bad breath symptoms.
Dr. Shahriary and staff are here to help you with all of your oral concerns. If you’re concerned about your bad breath, come see us for your personalized recommendations!
