With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the team at Valley Dental Practice have some top tips to help you get your breath minty fresh in a flash!
Brush and clean interdentally.
Plaque that forms on your teeth, provides the ideal home for bacteria that causes bad breath. Food trapped between teeth can further exacerbate the problem.
We all know we should be brushing our teeth twice a day and using interdental cleaning aids daily. But if you are concerned about your breath, do both a little more often.
Be careful though, it is important that you brush effectively and not harder, or else you can end up causing toothbrush abrasion, wearing down the enamel on your teeth and making them more susceptible to decay.
Rinse your mouth.
Using an antibacterial mouthwash can freshen breath and help to reduce the bacteria responsible for causing bad breath. Mouthwash should be used at an alternative time to brushing or else you will wash away the fluoride in your toothpaste which is needed to help keep your teeth healthy in the long term.
Chewing gum helps to stimulate saliva which is the mouth’s natural defence mechanism against plaque acids and also helps to remove food particles stuck on your teeth, which cause tooth decay and bad breath.
Keep your gums healthy.
Gum disease causes bad breath. Bacteria gather in pockets at the base of teeth, emitting an unpleasant odour.
The first sign of gum disease is bleeding gums when you brush. Should you notice this, book an appointment with your dentist so they can assess the health of your teeth and gums. They may advise that you visit the hygienist who will be able to clean and scale and polish your teeth. They will also be able to advise you on the correct oral hygiene routine to follow at home.
Quit smoking!
Besides causing cancer, smoking can damage your gums, stain your teeth and give you bad breath.
The only way to prevent this is to ditch the cigarettes for good.
Book an appointment.
If after all this you still feel you are experiencing bad breath, book an appointment with your dentist as they will be able to examine your mouth, teeth and gums to determine if there is any medical cause of your bad breath.
If you are concerned at all by bad breath, do not hesitate to call Valley Dental Practice on 01255 220322 and book a consultation appointment so one of our team can get to the root of the problem.
