What You Should Know About Controlling Bad Breath

If you suffer from bad breath often, you should learn all you can about the things that cause it and what you can do to get rid of it and even prevent it. Once you have a clearer understanding of what bad breath is all about, you'll have a better chance of chasing it off and keeping your breath smelling fresh. The information below will help you learn what you should know about your breath and how to keep it fresh.

Bad breath can be caused by plaque build-up

When you have an excessive amount of plaque build-up on your teeth, it can cause your breath to become foul. This is just one of the many reasons why proper daily oral hygiene is so important, as well as getting your regular professional teeth cleanings at your dentist's office.

You should also consider using a couple extra tools when it comes to your daily oral care regimen that will help to keep your mouth even cleaner than regular brushing, flossing and mouthwash will.

One of these tools is a water pick and it works by blasting hidden food particles out of the hard to reach areas that can be missed when you clean your teeth and gums using other methods. Another dental tool you should start using regularly is a tongue scraper. The scraper will get rid of bacteria on your tongue that may also contribute to your breath.

The foods you eat can also affect your breath

Strong foods can cause you to have bad breath that can linger for hours. A couple examples of the worse foods include garlic and onions.

In that same respect, there are some foods that help to give you better breath. Eating cheese can neutralize certain acids that cause bad breath. Sugarless candies and gum can help to give you a sweeter smelling breath and cinnamon can help your breath smell better for a longer period of time.

Untreated cavities and gum disease also cause bad breath

Cavities and gum disease can give you a rotten taste in your mouth and affect the smell of your breath. While these conditions should be treated for health reasons, better breath will be an added perk to having the problems taken care of.

If you work on controlling your bad breath and you aren't successful, you should consider meeting with your dentist. They can help you to come up with a treatment plan to better control your breath.