How to Prevent Bad Breath |

Bad Breath or medically known as halitosis can happen to everyone at times. It is caused by a wide array of factors, such as dietary choices, buildup of bacteria due to poor oral care, use of tobacco, dehydration, medical conditions and even stress. If you don’t want to feel self-conscious about having bad breath, it’s time to learn how to prevent this dental condition. Here at Windermere Orthodontics, we’re helping our patients prevent bad breath and feel confident about their smiles.

Routine Oral Care: The most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. Neglecting to brush your teeth and tongue can lead to accumulation of bad breath bacteria in your mouth. Therefore, you need to establish a daily oral care routine to prevent bad breath. Brush your teeth twice daily, floss at least once a day, clean your tongue and rinse with mouthwash. If you have braces, spend more time maintaining your oral care. Use a floss threader when flossing your teeth to make flossing with braces easier. It is important to clean the areas between the wires and teeth, and between gums and brackets, where food residue can easily get trapped.

Prevent Dry Mouth: Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist and avoid drinks that can cause dry mouth, such as coffee, alcohol and soft drinks. You can also chew sugar-free gum to stimulate the production of saliva, which is one of the mouth’s natural defense mechanisms against plaque acid that causes decay and bad breath.

Eat Healthy: Choose foods that can help increase saliva flow, such as dark green vegetables, protein-rich food, and whole grains. Avoid food high in sugar and acid, which can help increase bacteria in your mouth and cause bad breath. For people with braces, avoid sticky and chewy food that are easily trapped around your braces. These foods are hard to remove from braces and can put your mouth at higher risk of having odor-causing bacteria.

Improve lifestyle: Quit smoking and avoid drinking alcohol, which can cause dry mouth and bad breath.

Replace Your Toothbrush: According to the American Dental Association, you must replace your toothbrush at least every three to four months. A worn out and frayed toothbrush is not effective enough to clean your teeth, which can put your mouth at risk of odor-causing bacteria.

Regular Dental Checkup: To keep your mouth healthy and odor-free, see your dentist regularly at least every six months.

To learn more about bad breath prevention, contact or visit us at our orthodontic office in Suwanee, Brookhaven, and Cumming.

-Dr. Gorlovsky