If you have fresh breath, that usually means you have a clean and healthy mouth. When decay and disease are festering, bad breath and odors are major signs that something isn’t right. You might not notice that things don’t smell rosy, but anyone you kiss or get close to will pick up on the problem right away. August 6 is National Fresh Breath Day, so here are just some ways to maintain a clean and healthy mouth that smells good.
1. Floss Every Day
For some reason, flossing is an oral hygiene step that many people choose to skip. They might brush regularly, but the floss stays in the medicine cabinet. It is critical to floss every night before bed. This effort is small but mighty, and it is essential to clean between your teeth after a day of biting and chewing with them. Your toothbrush can reach a lot, but it can’t reach what dental floss can. And when food and bacteria get stuck in between teeth, they settle in and cause decay and bad breath.
2. Brush at Least Twice a Day
At the very least, you want to brush your teeth every morning and every night before bed. In a perfect world, you brush your teeth after every meal, though this usually isn’t possible for most people. Brushing your teeth, gums, and tongue keeps the mouth clean and fresh and brushes off food and bacteria. It’s also important to change your toothbrush regularly, at least once every six months.
3. Drink Water
A dry mouth is an unappealing mouth, and one that develops bad breath quickly. Dry mouth can be caused by a lot of different things, from medication to aging, and a lack of saliva contributes to oral health problems and odors. While drinking water isn’t enough to keep your mouth moist, it can help when you’re suffering from a dry mouth that can’t otherwise be helped. Drinking water also gives your teeth a little bath throughout the day, rinsing away looser food particles and bacteria so they don’t stick to your teeth and cause decay or bad breath.
Just remember that staying hydrated using energy or sports drinks may quench your thirst, but they will not do your teeth any favors. Drinks like this are high in sugars, which is a recipe for developing cavities and strips away fresh breath.
4. Visit Your Dentist
You can floss and brush diligently at home every day, but there is no substitution for the kind of care your Red Bank dentist and hygienist can provide. As oral health experts, they can see things in your mouth that you would never notice on your, including problems that can cause bad breath. Seeing your dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up ensures that your teeth are healthy and there are no developing problems that could contribute to discomfort or bad breath.
Has it been too long since you’ve been to the dentist? Do you need to schedule your next visit? Do you have bad breath that you just can’t shake? Contact Dr. Carole Sherrod Jewell or Dr. Pauline Robinson at Red Bank Dentistry in New Jersey to make your appointment.
