Having bad breath can be embarrassing for you as well as for those who come in close contact with it. Typically, the smell of the breath becomes offensive as the microbes within your mouth start to accumulate.
There are multiple factors that can affect the number of odor-causing microorganisms in your oral cavity. Here are a few of them.
Failing to Brush and Floss
When you brush your teeth or floss, you remove sizable amounts of plaque from your dental surfaces. The bristles of the toothbrush dislodge the sticky plaque from the tooth enamel. Additionally, the floss helps clear the odorous material from the interdental spaces.
Plaque is a combination of leftover debris from your meals and snacks mixed with oral microbes and their biofilm. As the plaque is cleared away, the smell of your mouth improves.
Drinking Large Quantities of Alcohol
Alcohol consumption, when excessive, often causes acid reflux. People who are inebriated frequently belch or vomit. As the contents of the stomach make their way to the mouth, they add an unsavory smell to your breath.
Additionally, alcohol is dehydrating. The mouth needs proper hydration to produce appropriate amounts of saliva. Without enough saliva in the oral cavity, dry mouth results.
One of the roles of saliva is to help rinse away bacteria and particles of food that may be left in the mouth. Without enough saliva present, an overgrowth of odorous microbes may occur.
Failing to Scrape Your Tongue
Even if you are brushing and flossing twice a day, you may forget to clean your tongue. The grooves and bumps on your tongue's surface offer additional hiding places for smelly bacteria. The bacteria on the tongue are often anaerobic and regularly release gaseous sulfur compounds that incite halitosis.
To clear the bacteria from the tongue, you can use a tongue scraper. The small tool is simply raked across that tongue to remove the bacteria adhering to it.
Tongue scraping can easily be performed each time you clean your teeth.
Failing to Use an Antimicrobial Mouth Rinse
Many mouthwash variations include antimicrobial ingredients, such as chlorhexidine. These ingredients are designed to eliminate large numbers of bacteria when you rinse your mouth with the product. Often, you only have to rinse for about 30 seconds for the mouthwash to work as it should.
To learn more ways to improve the smell of your breath, schedule a consultation with a family dentist in your local area.
Share23 July 2021
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.