Chronic bad breath is also known as halitosis. This embarrassing condition can affect social relationships and even professional credibility and performance. It can be very uncomfortable for others to address the issue, and even more uncomfortable for them to smell the offensive odor throughout an entire conversation or meeting. To avoid this undesirable situation, following these tips can help reduce or eliminate chronic bad breath:
- Brush teeth twice a day and floss once a day. One of the leading causes of bad breath is food particles remaining in the mouth and trapped between the teeth. By removing these food particles, a major source of odor is also removed and eliminated.
- Use a tongue scraper to clean the tongue of bacteria that can cause bad breath. This often-overlooked technique can pick up where the toothbrush leaves off.
- Visit the dentist for cleanings and checkups twice a year. Poor dental hygiene, disease, and dental infection can also cause chronic bad breath. By having a professional examine and correct any issues twice a year, several causes of bad breath can be eliminated at the dentist’s office. In addition, they can teach proper at-home dental hygiene techniques and recommend products for home use that can be most effective in the treatment and prevention of bad breath.
- Avoid foods with more offensive odors. Onions, garlic, and other foods with strong odors can cause problems twice: first by lodging foul-smelling food particles between the teeth while eating, but second, by causing acix reflux issues after the meal. Digestive issues can cause food odors to linger and affect the breath, causing halitosis odors from indigestion.
- Pay attention to respiratory health. An infection in the respiratory system can also give off a strong foul odor, and exhaling that odor will cause others to be able to smell it. Likewise, smoking can cause a smoker to still have bad breath after the cigarette is extinguished because of its lingering effects.
- Beware of severe dieting. When the body undergoes harsh, restrictive diets, it can also give off a foul odor in the breath. Balance, moderation, and proper self-care choices are important to look good and smell good to others.
Popular dental hygiene items like toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, and tongue scrapers can help the average person avoid chronic bad breath between visits to the dentist twice a year. But the dentist is not the only professional who can help with halitosis. A family physician can help where dental care leaves off, including diagnosing and treating respiratory infections and providing resources and tips for quitting smoking.
If you are concerned about your breath and why you are experiencing chronic bad breath at your next appointment ask your dentist at All Star Dental. We are happy to help you with your oral health. To schedule an appointment or with any questions, you can call any of our locations or contact us directly on our website. We have five locations around the Chicago area for your convenience including United Center, Austin, Aurora, Joilet, and Blue Island.
