One in four Americans suffers from chronic bad breath—also known as halitosis. Bad breath can be embarrassing, unattractive, and unhealthy. Dr. Locke can determine the source of your bad oral odor and treat the problem appropriately. In the meantime, try these tips to fight bad breath and keep your mouth fresh.
- Clean your mouth. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth daily can prevent bacteria from building up in your mouth. Ingredients like chlorine dioxide and zinc can help reduce bad odors in your mouth.
- Brush your tongue. Almost half of the bacteria in your mouth live on the surface of your tongue. If you don’t brush these bacteria away, they can produce a film on your tongue that begins to smell bad.
- Hydrate your mouth. When your mouth becomes dry, bacteria can stick and the odor is stronger. Drinking lots of water can keep your mouth moist to rinse away bacteria. A baking soda and water mixture can help balance the natural pH level of your mouth and reduce bad smells.
- Change your diet. When garlic, cheese, onions, orange juice, alcohol, and other stinky foods enter your bloodstream, the smell will be released through your breath. Try to avoid eating too many strong odors, and brush your teeth and rinse your mouth after eating. Furthermore, a low-carb diet may produce a bad smell on your breath.
- Cover the smell. Gum and mint can help cover halitosis. Additionally, chewing gum helps stimulate saliva to keep your mouth moist. Parsley is also a natural deodorizer that can help reduce oral odors.
- Keep your body healthy. Some medical conditions, like cancer, diabetes, and lung infections, can cause bad breath or dry mouth. Tooth decay and gum disease also feed bacteria and contribute to halitosis.
- Wash your dental work. Bacteria grow on retainers, dentures, and other dental appliances. Remove and wash your oral appliances regularly to remove bacteria and debris.
- Kill the odor-causing bacteria. Studies show that compounds in cinnamon can reduce the bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath. Eating yogurt can also help battle bad breath. Yogurt creates an unhealthy environment so bacteria cannot survive.
- Avoid stress. Stress causes body imbalances and changes that can lead to foul breath. Stress may also cause you to neglect focus on your mouth, allowing bacteria to build up.
- Stop smoking. Tobacco products dry out your mouth and leave a bad smell on your breath. Smoking also increases your risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
If you’ve tried all these tricks and your halitosis won’t go away, contact Dr. Locke to solve the problem and keep your breath fresh. Call (254) 776-4888 to request an appointment with our dentist office in Waco, Texas. We welcome patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and surrounding Central Texas communities.