Bad Breath Treatments and Prevention

Bad breath or halitisis as it is medically referred to, can be an extremely embarrassing problem and an affliction that almost every person you meet has suffered with at some point in their life. While almost everyone will suffer with intermittent bad breath, there are those that suffer with the condition on a persistent basis. Bad breath can be caused by any number of things or even a combination of factors including poor dental hygiene, gum disease, the foods you eat, tobacco products or a medical disorder.

Treatment of Bad Breath

The good news is that there are a number of treatments and preventative measures that can help combat bad breath and to banish it altogether.  A treatment for bad breath normally depends on the cause of the problem but there are a few common treatments which you can try –

Improve you dental and oral hygiene

It may sound like a no-brainer but improving your dental and oral hygiene is one of the first things you should try to treat the problem. Brush your teeth twice a day as well as your tongue and remember to floss regularly.

Keep your mouth moist

Dry mouth is one of the most common causes of bad breath. Stimulating the production of saliva in your mouth keeps it moist. To keep saliva flowing, make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Alternatively, sucking a mint or chewing gum can temporarily stimulate the production of saliva for short-term relief from bad breath.

Visit your doctor

If bad breath is till persisting despite an improvement in dental hygiene and overall hydration, then a visit should be paid to your doctor as it may be due to an underlying medical condition. If your doctor can diagnose the condition, it will then be possible to treat the condition and put an end to your bad breath.

Prevention of Bad Breath

They say prevention is better than cure and they would be right! You can stop an onslaught of bad breath by following some of these good-to-know tips –

Brush and floss regularly

Brushing your teeth twice a day a day and flossing your teeth at least once a day is one of the best ways to prevent bad breath. A good dental routine such as this will prevent a build-up of bacteria in your mouth which is one of the causes of bad breath.

Avoid certain foods

There are a number of foods which are renowned for causing bad breath. These foods include garlic, onions and spicy foods. Avoiding these foods or cutting them out of your diet altogether will prevent bad breath.

Regular dental check-ups

Paying regular visits to your dentist is key to maintaining optimum oral health. By visiting your dentist on a regular basis, they will be able to identify any cavities or early signs of gum disease that you might have which can cause bad breath. In addition, regular dental cleaning can help prevent plaque build-up which is also a culprit for causing bad breath.

At the very least, bad breath is a bit of a nuisance but at its worst, it is an extremely embarrassing affliction that can affect your confidence and self-esteem However, it is a treatable problem and even more importantly, it is preventable.

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