How to prevent Bad Breath?

Bad breath is one of the first symptoms and indicators of an eventual dental problem. Hence it can be cured and reversed with simple changes and medication in rare cases. Though there are many reasons for bad breath, bad oral hygiene habits are the most common. The rarest cause is a probable gum infection. Hence dentist consultation is extremely necessary to diagnose and treat this stench and bad breath.

Here are some of the causes of bad breath:

Causes of Bad Breath

Irregular oral hygiene habits: Proper brushing and flossing can prevent most of the dental problems we face these days. The plaque buildup and the bacteria around the gum line can cause the stench and can even lead to many dental diseases if left untreated. Brushing twice a day and flossing every day is the best solution for every dental concern.
Dry Mouth: Saliva cleanses the mouth and removes bacteria that cause this oral odor. This condition of dry mouth is called xerostomia and this can later lead to many diseases like gingivitis. Hence, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking water at regular intervals.
Medication: Some medications can cause dry mouth and bad breath as well. After being broken down in the body they might still cause bad breath.

Ways to Prevent Bad Breath

There are many dentist-prescribed ways to prevent bad breath. From dental hygiene habits to food habits to food habits there are many ways in which bad breath can be prevented.

Here are a few.

Oral habits: Brushing twice a day and flossing every day is the single most important habit to keep bad breath at bay. This habit of brushing and flossing every day reduces the possibility of plaque build-up which causes that stench. Habits like these protect your teeth from bad breath, decay, and gum infection.
Mouthwash: Apart from brushing and flossing using mouthwash regularly is also an important step to avoid dental problems and infections. Rinsing your mouth with a dentist-prescribed mouthwash is always advisable. It ensures fresh breath and prevents odor.
Avoiding foods that cause bad breath: As it is widely known, onions and garlic cause bad breath, and brushing post-consumption might not help. American Dental Association states that foods that cause bad breath get absorbed into the bloodstream and enter the lungs.
Clean your tongue: Cleaning and scraping your tongue every day helps remove all the bacteria that gets settled on the tongue. It ensures fresh breath and also prevents tooth decay and damage.
Avoid tobacco: Tobacco is harmful not just to the lungs and heart but also to your teeth. Apart from containing cancer-causing agents, tobacco also has harmful substances that cause damage to your oral health as well. It causes teeth discoloration, gum infections, and bad breath.

All these habits of good oral health and hygiene can go a long way in ensuring strong teeth, healthy gums, and fresh breath. These are the fundamental concerns of dental health that need to be taken care of