Have you ever seen a cartoon with a character who has bad breath? The stench is often animated with a green cloud that slowly escapes the person’s mouth and surrounds the poor, unfortunate person who is closest to them. While we’ve yet to see an actual green cloud of halitosis escape the mouths of one of our patients at our Royal Oak, MI office, we are familiar with the discomfort and embarrassment that comes with bad breath.
If you have been struggling with chronic bad breath, don’t let another day go by without calling North Oaks Dental at 248-712-1522 (Royal Oak) 248-963-1969 (New Hudson) 586-685-7937 (Sterling Heights) . We can help get to the bottom of what’s causing the odor and share tips on how to keep it from coming back. In the meantime, try some of the tricks below that may help you beat bad breath.

Re-Examine your Dental Hygiene Routine

Even if you already brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly, it wouldn’t hurt to re-examine your dental hygiene routine to see if there is something you could be doing differently. Are you brushing for two minutes each time? Are you flossing daily, making sure to get in between each of your teeth, at your gum line, and behind your very back teeth? Are you using an ADA-certified toothpaste that contains fluoride?
There are a lot of aspects that go into a complete dental hygiene routine. Consider whether there is anything you are leaving out.

Rinse with Mouthwash

Speaking of a thorough dental hygiene routine, do you finish by rinsing with mouthwash? If not, talk to your dentist about whether a daily mouthwash could help freshen your breath.
Look for a mouthwash that kills germs, protects against bacteria, and freshens breath. For recommendations, feel free to contact one of our team members at ABC DENTAL or recommendations.

Say Goodbye to Tobacco

Bad breath is just one of the many problems associated with using tobacco. If you smoke or chew tobacco and want fresher breath, you’ll have to give up the habit. Bad breath is arguably the least harmful side effect of using tobacco, but it is more than enough of a reason to finally quit once and for all.

Focus on your Diet

Have you given much thought to the foods you eat and the effect they have on your breath? If you regularly enjoy certain foods like onions and garlic, try replacing them with foods that won’t linger on your breath and give off an unpleasant stench.
Foods that naturally clean your teeth and help freshen your breath include apples, cucumbers, lettuce, and carrots.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is essential for fresh breath. Not only will dry mouth contribute to bad breath, but drinking water helps rinse away leftover food debris and bacteria to naturally freshen your breath. Try to sip more water throughout the day and see how your breath improves.
To learn more about how to beat bad breath and avoid the common yet uncomfortable odor, call North Oaks Dental today at 248-712-1522 (Royal Oak) 248-963-1969 (New Hudson) 586-685-7937 (Sterling Heights) to schedule your next preventive dentistry appointment. We are always more than happy to help!