Everyone has woken up with a case of less-than-pleasant morning breath, but sometimes halitosis can become more than a morning occurrence – and something of a problem.

Bad breath can be caused by a wide range of factors, including what we eat and when we eat it. While a diet of pure garlic and coffee is a shoo-in for the “Bad Breath of the Year Awards”, there are other factors that can contribute to chronic halitosis. Poor oral hygiene can leave your mouth open to a wide range of ailments, from cavities to gingivitis, and can actually be the cause of your bad breath. Thanks to the bacterial growth caused by food left behind, poor dental hygiene habits can have a lasting impact on your first impressions. Other oral ailments such as dry mouth and gum infections can also lead to bad breath. That is why following a consistent oral hygiene routine is crucial to preventing bad breath.

Here are some steps you can take to help prevent bad breath and keep your mouth fresh and clean.

Brush Your Teeth

The first major way to prevent bad breath is to regularly brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes can prevent parts of your food from clinging to the surface of your teeth and causing bad breath. Make sure to brush the entire surface of your teeth using circular motions to help dislodge any stuck food. Remember to clean your tongue as well!

Floss Regularly

Next, flossing between your teeth can help remove hard-to-reach food residue that can cause bacteria to flourish in hard-to-reach areas. Regular flossing can also help prevent gum diseases and cavities, so it’s important to make sure to include flossing in your daily oral hygiene routine.

Rinse It Out

Finally, rinsing out your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash can remove any remaining food and kill off any of that halitosis-causing bacteria, leaving your mouth clean and fresh.

Visit Your Dentist

If you follow a comprehensive oral hygiene routine and still suffer from bad breath, it may be a sign of something more serious. Things like gum disease and chronic dry mouth can lead to frequent halitosis and should be diagnosed by your dentist. Thankfully, these conditions are treatable when taken care of correctly, so visiting your dentist on a regular basis can help them detect issues early on, so you can get the best treatment possible.

If you suffer from chronic halitosis and are would like to find treatment in the Mt.Pleasant, SC area, call our office today to set up an appointment. At Crossland Dental Associates, we know how frustrating (and unpleasant) chronic bad breath can be and pride ourselves in helping patients get to the bottom of their halitosis concerns.

Source(s): https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/bad-breath#1 and https://www.brightnow.com/about-us/post/what-actually-causes-bad-breath