With the holiday season and all the events around the corner, bad breath prevention should be at the top of your oral hygiene list. The last thing you want is to attend a holiday party and have to worry about the consequences of halitosis. Bad breath can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples include poor dental hygiene, dehydration, or recently eating certain foods like onions or garlic.
How To Prevent Bad Breath
Patients have the opportunity at home to guarantee their breath continues to be bacteria-free and smelling fresh. Brush and floss daily. The easiest way to prevent bad breath is to brush and floss daily properly. This removes tartar and bacteria from the mouth preventing and long-lasting damage.
Brush Your Tongue
As stated before, the tongue collects most of the bacteria that cause bad breath, so regular brushing removes the build-up and lowers bad breath over time.
Avoid Dry Mouth
Keeping adequately hydrated helps promote saliva and in turn, keeps bad breath under control. Get a new toothbrush. Changing your toothbrush every three to four months guarantees the brush is functioning correctly while cleaning your teeth which removes bacteria and lowers bad breath.
Routine Dental Exams
It is essential to visit your dentist for optimal oral health at least twice a year. If you are concerned about the freshness of your breath, contact our office to schedule an appointment in Los Angeles. We look forward to the opportunity to help you achieve fresh breath to better your life.
Evaluation and Treatment
To determine a patient’s bad breath, the dentist will smell both the breath from the mouth and nose then rate the odor on a scale. If it appears a patient’s tongue is the cause of the bad breath, The dentist may also scrape the tongue for an odor rating. After the evaluation, treatment options will be suggested. For most patients, bad breath treatment includes mouth rinse and toothpaste designed to kill bacteria built up in the mouth. For others, a recommendation for periodontal (gum) treatment may be necessary to remove gum disease-causing bad breath. Often bad breath can be lowered or prevented at home. Dr. Nazli Majd aims to make your visit as comfortable as possible, feel free to make an appointment online today.
