fresh-breathBad breath happens to the best of us. Have you ever found yourself avoiding a certain someone in a desperate attempt to avoid their bad breath? Or worse, are they avoiding you because you are in fact the one in need of a tic-tac?

There are many factors that play a role in causing the most unpleasant odor in your mouth, however, there are several options for you when you find yourself clamming up.

Lets begin with simply brushing and flossing. Yes, this may seem obvious but it truly does help combat bad breath. If you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily, you remove food debris and plaque where bacteria like to grow, hence removing one of the leading bad breath culprits. Scraping your tongue is an added bonus and highly recommended.

Along with good oral hygiene, paying attention to what you eat also plays a part in keeping your mouth fresh. Try snacking on crispy fruits and vegetables. These healthy treats increase saliva flow which flush out bacteria as well as keep your stomach from churning with hunger. When your stomach is content it is less likely to build up stomach acids that also cause bad breath. You can even munch on sugarless gum to keep the saliva flow going!

Drinking water and staying hydrated keeps your mouth hydrated and food debris and bacteria away. Having a dry mouth can not only cause bad breath but can lead to other dental concerns as well. Plus, it is always important to drink plenty of water to maintain overall good health.

Another tip to keeping fresh breath is simply quit tobacco. Tobacco drys out the mouth and creates an unpleasant odor that lingers even after brushing and flossing.

Lastly, visit Dr. Kimes to make sure that there are not any other dental issues contributing to your bad breath. You want to be sure that along with good oral hygiene, your mouth is as
healthy as it can be. Also, there can be systemic problems that cause chronic bad breath that may need further evaluation and treatment.

Here’s to bright, fresh smiles!