While St. Patrick’s Day is a wonderful time for you to exclaim, “Kiss me, I’m Irish!” to get a quick peck from your significant other – you might find yourself in quite a pickle. If your breath is nice and fresh, all may go off without a hitch. However, if you’re dealing with bad breath – also known as halitosis – well, let’s just say you’re going to be running for the nearest toothbrush. To get to the bottom of why you’re dealing with a bit of a stinky situation when it comes to your mouth, we encourage you to learn consider a few helpful suggestions regarding your oral health.
Check Your Brushing Habits
How are you doing with your brushing habits? Are you quite certain about the best way to approach keeping your mouth clean and your oral health in excellent shape? You see, the more consistently you remove plaque from your smile (a sticky, bacteria-filled substance that coats your smile), the better. The bacteria in plaque release yucky odors, which may contribute to your not-so-fresh smile. Allowing plaque to accumulate and harden into tartar can result in significant problems with halitosis. Combat this issue by brushing your teeth two times every single day (preferably in the morning and then again before you make your way to bed). Note: Brush your tongue, as well – bacteria cling to its surface, too!
Check Your Mouth Moistness
Have you noticed your mouth feels a bit dry lately? Perhaps you’re taking medication that decreases saliva flow, maybe you’re dealing with untreated sleep apnea, or perhaps you are mouth breathing as the result of chronic allergies. Whatever the case, a dry mouth is one in which saliva flow is in decline. When this occurs, bacteria that are usually rinsed away by saliva begin to increase, giving off their foul smell. Fortunately there is hope. First, treat any obvious concerns on your own (such as allergies) and drink more water to moisten your oral tissues. We also suggest you schedule a visit for an oral health exam, so we may identify any existing problems and offer additional suggestions.
