Most people would agree that bad breath is one of the biggest turn offs and one of the worst ways to make a first impression. In many cases, bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene. Morning breath, however, is a bit more out of your control. You could brush and floss before bed, and …
Most people would agree that bad breath is one of the biggest turn offs and one of the worst ways to make a first impression. In many cases, bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene. Morning breath, however, is a bit more out of your control. You could brush and floss before bed, and still wake up with a bitter or sour-like taste in your mouth. That said, there are things you can do to get this embarrassing issue more under control.
Prevent Mouth Breathing
Sleeping on your side or stomach may be all that you need to stop from mouth breathing at night that causes dry mouth. When your mouth is more dry, you have less saliva…and you actually need saliva to kill bacteria because bacteria thrive in a dry environment.
Practice Thorough Brushing & Flossing
Make sure you are brushing and flossing thoroughly and for a full two minutes. People often just do a quick 30 second drive-by in their mouths and think that’s adequate. It’s not. Did you know that bacteria feed off of the teeny bits of food in your mouth and the pieces that get stuck between your teeth? Volatile sulphur compounds are then released through anaerobic respiration…hence the terrible smell.
If you keep up with a good morning and evening routine, you’re going to notice a positive difference with a good old-fashioned teeth brushing…as long as you put the time and effort in to do a good job.
Scrape Your Tongue
A tongue scraper will only set you back a few dollars financially and it will be a win for your mouth. Food particles can get easily lodged on your tongue (even if you can’t see anything when you look in the mirror).
Use Alcohol-free Mouthwash
Many mouthwashes have alcohol, so ironically they can dry out your mouth and perpetuate the problem. To increase your odds of having good breath, you need a moist mouth…so drink lots of water and use an alcohol-free mouthwash or rinse.
Eat Foods that Stimulate Saliva
Your mouth stimulates saliva whenever you eat, but ideally, you want to focus on crunchy veggies and fruit. They will help keep the surface of your teeth clean too!
There is definitely something to say for the “eat an apple a day” analogy!
More questions about bad breath or morning breath in particular? Ask your dentist.
If you are looking for a dentist in Surrey, we would love to have you as a patient at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry. Give us a call: 604-593-8201 and book an appointment for you and your family today!
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