There’s nothing more off-putting than meeting a stranger with Bad Breath. You want to avoid close contact, and cease all communication as soon as possible. But are you keeping your breath as fresh smelling as it could be?

Imagine you’re about to go see a Bruce Springsteen concert with your significant other. You spent a small fortune on tickets to see ‘The Boss’ and have been planning this date for ages. When you grab your partner to dance, are you self-conscious about your breath?

Many people would be. The mouthwash industry generates millions of dollars in revenue for a reason. But mouthwash alone does not cure the many causes of Bad Breath. Bad Breath can actually be a signal from your body that you need to change part of your oral hygiene routine.

At Newman Springs Dental Care in Lincroft, NJ, your oral hygiene is our business. With that in mind, we’re going to use today’s blog post to share a few tips for keeping your breath fresh.

Tip #1: It’s Not Just the Type of Food You Eat

Yes, that Philly Cheesesteak with onions can do a number on your breath. As can a nice, warm slice of garlic bread. But all the food you eat can make your breath smell, if you don’t brush or at least rinse after a meal.

Every food you eat leaves a microscopic trail of particles in your mouth. These particles of food then attract nasty bacteria into your mouth, all of which have some sort of unpleasant aroma. Candy and other sugared foods attract the most bacteria; but carbohydrate rich foods such as white bread are a close second. This is because carbohydrates quickly breakdown into simple sugars, and attract bacteria.

The best way to rid your mouth of this bacteria is to brush after a meal. If brushing is not a convenient option, you can always excuse yourself to the bathroom to rinse out your mouth with water.

Tip #2: Drink More Water and Chew Sugar-free Gum

Your mouth’s saliva is a necessary tool for washing odor-causing bacteria and food out of your mouth. But when your mouth is dry, you’re already losing the battle against Bad Breath.

Dry mouth has many different causes, but the result is always the same. Simply put, when there’s not enough saliva in your mouth, bacteria builds up even faster than normal.
You may not even notice that your mouth is a little drier than normal. If you’ve been working out, you may be breathing out of your mouth. This action of catching your breath also serves to evaporate saliva out of your mouth. This same is true if you’re congested or have a runny nose.

Dry mouth can also be caused by smoking, or by taking certain prescription drugs. Adderall, Ritalin, and other stimulant medications often cause dry mouth as a side effect of use. If you don’t smoke, take prescription drugs, or breath out of your mouth and still suffer from dry mouth, you may be suffering from a problem with your salivary gland.
Luckily, the solution for dry mouth is pretty simple. First, you need to drink more water. Water helps remove bacteria and food from your mouth, and leaves your mouth feeling hydrated. Second, chewing sugar-free gum can help stimulate your mouth’s production of saliva, and freshens your breath.

Tip #3: Make A Dental Appointment Every Six Months

Bad Breath is often indicative of Gum Disease, or tooth decay. Built-up tartar on your teeth, or decayed teeth, all produce the smell of bacteria. If a tooth is rotted, it not only smells, it also contains decay that can spread to your other teeth. Brushing and flossing alone is not enough to combat advanced decay and tartar.

Teeth cleanings remove plaque and tartar from your teeth; in addition you are screened for additional dental problems including Gum Disease and Oral Cancer. Oral Diseases often start painlessly and may go unnoticed by the average patient. But if they’re not detected early, they can have disastrous consequences. You could lose teeth, or even your life if Oral Cancer is left undetected. Early detection and treatment of Oral Diseases can save you from life-changing medical procedures.

Make An Appointment

Are suffering from bad breath? If you are, not ignore the signals your body is giving you regarding your health. Mouthwash alone is not a feasible or reasonable treatment plan. At Newman Springs Dental Care in Lincroft, NJ we offer advanced Preventive Dental services to keep you smiling. Click here to make an appointment.