If someone offers you a mint, chances are it’s a subtle hint that you may not have the freshest of breath. Halitosis is something that can be a temporary situation or something more serious. But with national days like Coffee with a Cop (October 5th), Moldy Cheese (October 9th), Sausage Pizza (October 11th), and American Beer (October 27th), it may be a good idea to talk about why we get bad breath and what we can do to avoid it.
Obviously, eating stinky foods will cause this issue, but there are times when bad breath is more than just some garlic breath. Physical conditions like issues with tonsils or your stomach, even some medications that can cause your breath to smell. If you find that your bad breath is becoming more common, check in with your doctor. Here are some other tips to preventing smelly breath:
- Stay hydrated. If you can’t brush your teeth after a meal, drinking a lot of water can help speed up the process of cleaning harmful bacteria and debris from between your teeth.
- Don’t drink too much coffee. It may be tasty, but coffee is a tough smell to get off the back of your tongue.
- Avoid tobacco products. Cigarettes, pipes, and snuff can foul your breath.
- Cut back on alcohol. Because of dry mouth, too much beer, wine, and hard liquor can make your breath reek for up to eight to 10 hours after you finish drinking.
- Chew sugarless gum. 20 minutes after a meal can help with saliva flow, just make sure it’s 100% xylitol-sweetened to help reduce cavities.
For more information about bad breath, call Dr. Ladani in Schnecksville, PA at 610-799-0600 or visit www.extraordinarysmiles.net.
Dr. Sandip Ladani proudly serve patients from Schnecksville and all surrounding areas.