Tips for a healthy mouth

Bad breath can be a sensitive problem that actually need not be so hard to deal with as long as you have the right equipment and a good oral hygiene routine.

Most people are aware that regular brushing helps prevent plaque, caries and tartar. Another reason for brushing your teeth is your breath; no one wants bad odours coming out of their mouth.
Many people think that bad breath comes from the stomach, but this is not normally the case. The odour mostly comes from the oral cavity, when careless cleaning means bits of food are left between the teeth. The more often someone eats, the more easily bacteria form. Plaque forms from food residues and bacteria, which after about twenty four hours start to rot and give off a slightly unpleasant odour.

Many people are unaware that their breath smells bad. It is difficult to sense your own smell, and it is a sensitive topic to talk about, which makes it difficult for people with bad breath to do something about it.

Several things are key factors
Diet, oral hygiene and cleaning of the tongue all play a part in whether or not you have bad breath.

Brushing your teeth is the most important thing you can do. If you are unable to brush your teeth after lunch, it may be a good idea to rinse your mouth out with a glass of water. Dental floss can get into places missed by the toothbrush, so it is a good idea to use it at night before brushing your teeth. If you use it after brushing, it may remove the fluoride, which is more effective the longer it remains in place. A tip for checking if you have bad breath is to use dental floss between your back teeth and then sniff the floss.

Don’t forget your tongue!

The tongue too is a breeding ground for the bacteria that cause bad breath. There are special tongue scrapers to help remove these foul-smelling bacteria; you can also just brush your tongue a few times with your toothbrush.

Antibacterial mouthwash and xylitol chewing gum can also have positive effects.