There may be nothing that can create self-consciousness faster than the realization that you have bad breath. In your attempts to hide bad breath from those around you, you may resort to mumbling, refusing to face people directly, or just clamming up. However, these acts may be interpreted as rude or awkward. Therefore, having fresh breath is a very important part of ensuring your confidence during social interactions. Accordingly, your Brighton dentist, Dr. Thomas Villani, has put together a list of tips for keeping bad breath at bay.
Fresh Breath Tips from Your Brighton Dentist
- It all starts with homecare. Bacteria in the mouth are largely responsible for bad breath. While certain illnesses can create bad breath, the major killer of fresh breath is bacteria. Therefore, it is important to clean your teeth regularly and thoroughly to keep bacteria at bay. Be sure that you brush 2-3 times per day and floss once a day. Neglecting to floss, could allow bacteria to linger between teeth, where a toothbrush will be unable to reach them. You can also brush your tongue, to clean its surface of breath-souring bacteria.
- Stay hydrated. Have you ever noticed that your breath is not at its freshest in the morning? That’s because the mouth tends to become dry during the night when you are asleep. Saliva can fight some bacteria, so when there is less saliva, bacteria are able to hang around. Therefore, if you want to keep your breath fresh, consider sipping on some water.
- Attend regular dental cleanings. Sometimes bacteria can hang around as plaque or tartar. These substances can be very difficult to remove with a toothbrush. However, if they are allowed to remain on your teeth you may have lingering bad breath despite brushing and flossing regularly. To remove plaque and tartar and restore fresh breath, attend a dental cleaning during which a hygienist can use special instruments to clean your teeth thoroughly.
Schedule a Visit with Your Brighton Dentist
If you haven’t attended a dental cleaning in a while, stubborn plaque and tartar could be causing bad breath. If you would like to schedule an appointment for a cleaning, contact your Brighton dentist, Dr. Villani, today by calling Brighton Family Dental Group at (617) 562-5210. We proudly serve patients from Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, Brighton, and the 02135 area.
