Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Bad breath can be offensive to others and embarrassing to the sufferer. Still, the condition can often be remedied with a few minor changes to your dental hygiene regimen.

Here are a few steps that you can take to improve the smell of your breath.

Use a Tongue Scraper

A tongue scraper safely removes bacteria from the tongue. Since the tongue does not have a smooth surface, it offers a large number of bumps and grooves on which oral microbes can accumulate. The scraper helps pull the bacteria from the lingual surface and gathers them for disposal.

Anaerobic bacteria frequently gather on the tongue. These microbes release volatile sulfur compounds that can cause halitosis. Thus, a decline in the number of anaerobic bacteria can have a positive effect on the smell of your breath.

Rinse With an Antimicrobial Mouthwash

After brushing and flossing, a final rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash can help rid the mouth of remaining smelly microbes. There are a large number of antibacterial mouth rinses that are available for purchase over-the-counter. However, some of these products contain alcohol, which can contribute to dry mouth. Since dry mouth is also associated with halitosis, it is best to look for mouth rinses that include chlorhexidine as the active ingredient instead of alcohol. Chlorhexidine kills oral microbes without drying out the mouth.

Use a Water Flosser

String floss is effective, but it can be difficult to navigate around the teeth. Leftover bits of food can become caught between the teeth and along the gum line, where it can start to decay. This will emit a foul odor.

A water flosser uses a concentrated stream of water to dislodge the food, along with plaque and bacteria that may have accumulated in the space. The flosser also helps clear debris from just below the gum line, improving the health of the gingival tissues. Poor gum health is also associated with bad breath.

Have Your Teeth Professionally Cleaned Every Six Months

Some people fail to schedule their routine dental visits twice a year. During these visits, the dentist scales the teeth to remove tartar, which is hardened plaque.

Tartar has a porous consistency, and bacteria and smelly compounds can become lodged in its pores. As the tartar is removed, the malodorous substances are also eliminated. The degree of halitosis may increase with the amount of tartar that has accumulated on the teeth.

If you suffer from bad breath, schedule a consultation with a dental clinic, like Milner Dentistry.