How to prevent bad breath?

We all know way too well how annoying bad breath can be when it comes from people you are talking with or how embarrassing it can be when you know you are the culprit! Thankfully there are some simple tricks one can follow on a regular basis to shut out this problem forever!

Halitosis

The medical term for bad breath, halitosis is an unpleasant mouth odour caused by a variety of reasons ranging from poor oral hygiene, consumption of certain foods, alcohol or tobacco, dry mouth to some chronic health conditions. Though the main cause is anaerobic bacteria which is found in the white coating on the back of the tongue that breaks down proteins into amino acids which produce foul gases called volatile sulphur compounds (VSC).

Tips To Prevent Bad Breath

Oral Hygiene

• Brushing: Yes! As regular as it may sound, you can never stress enough on the benefits of this routine. Make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day and ideally 30 minutes after every meal. This will go a long way in making sure your teeth are always clean.
• Flossing: Regular flossing greatly helps prevent cavities and periodontal diseases by cleaning micro-deposits of food particles from the crevices of the mouth. It helps refresh your mouth after meals as well.
• Tongue Scraping: This simple technique is of great benefit as it helps reduce countless oral bacteria that thrive on the top surface of the tongue. However, always ensure you use a professional tongue cleaner for this, not your toothbrush as it will only spread bacteria which causes a foul odour to your gums!

Watch What Goes into the Body

• Cut down on pungent/spicy foods: Your bloodstream absorbs everything you eat, only to be reflected back when you speak or breath! We are well aware of the menace pungent foods like onion, garlic, radish and other spicy foods can cause when it comes to bad breath. So cut out those from your diet and instead include more hydrating veggies and herbs like parsley, carrots, celery and cucumbers which will help clean your mouth of debris.
• Hydrate: If you cannot manage to brush and floss your teeth after every meal, water will come to your rescue! It will clean your mouth of all the food particles before it begins to form bacteria.
• No tobacco, sodas, caffeine and alcohol!: While we are aware tobacco can cause oral cancers and a host of periodontal diseases, beverages like sodas, tea/coffee and alcohols can deplete the calcium levels in your body due to the high level of phosphorous in them which causes gum diseases and tooth decay, not to mention they stain your pearlies too!
• Up your calcium and vitamin intake: Including milk, yoghurt, cheese, fruit juices, broccoli and such calcium-rich food are beneficial for your teeth and gums. Take calcium, vitamin and mineral supplements including vitamin D, zinc, copper, iron and potassium to maintain overall dental health.

Regular Dental Check-Ups

Last but not the least! As per expert Dentist in India, patients vouch for the innumerable benefits of regular dental check-ups, at least twice a year to get a full hygiene treatment along with x-rays to diagnose any concerns at an early stage.

How To Prevent Gingivitis?

Gingivitis might be a common gum disease, but if not treated properly, can lead to much serious oral health conditions like tooth decay, periodontitis, and finally tooth loss. The symptoms of gingivitis are swollen gums that bleed, bad breath, receding gum line and weak gum tissues.

What Is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is a gum disease that occurs due to a bacterial infection. It affects the gingiva or the gums, making them weak and prone to bleeding. Gingivitis is quite common and mild in nature and can be treated easily. If ignored, it can cause the gums to separate from the teeth (tooth loss). But a consistent and proper care of one’s oral health can prevent and also cure it.

Gingivitis’ Causes

Not maintaining a good oral hygiene is the most common cause of gingivitis. If attention is not given to the care of one’s oral health, the chances are that person may get gingivitis. A poor oral hygiene leads to plaque and tartar formation on teeth which further leads to inflammation of the surrounding gum tissues.

Gingivitis’ More Serious Form and Its Supposed Link with Other Diseases

A rather severe form of gingivitis is Acute Necrotising Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG), colloquially known as trench mouth. This is a rare disease in developed countries but common in developing and under-developed countries, especially the ones with low living standards. People affected with this form of gingivitis suffer from infected and bleeding gums and ulcerations of inter-dental regions.

Also, research has hinted at a possible link of chronic gingivitis with diabetes, heart and lung diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis. This hasn’t been confirmed as of yet, but this should not make people take the disease lightly.

Prevention of Gingivitis

Taking care of your oral hygiene is the most important step in order to prevent gingivitis. Here is how you can look after your teeth and gums and keep the gum disease at bay:

• Use quality toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. Replace your toothbrush after two to three months of usage. Electric brushes are pretty effective at removing plaque and tartar.
• Brush your teeth at least twice daily: before hitting the bed in the night and after getting up in the morning. Brushing properly for two to three minutes will suffice. Brush your tongue a little bit and then use a tongue cleaner to ensure an all-round oral health.
• Along with brushing and flossing, try using an inter-dental cleaner, like a dental pick, inter-dental brush or dental stick that will clean between the teeth, an area where normal toothbrushes can’t clean effectively.
• Floss at least once a day. Flossing before you brush helps in removing the loose food particles and bacteria from your mouth.
• Use a mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth.
• Quit smoking and chewing tobacco.
• Eat foods rich in Vitamin-C for gum health.
• Eat healthily. Keep your blood sugar levels in control if you have diabetes.
• Go for regular dental check-ups and cleaning as per your dentist’s recommendation. Dentists in India usually recommend cleanings every six to twelve months. Also, going for annual dental x-rays can spot diseases unobserved in a visual dental examination.

So if above-stated precautions are adhered to, then it can be assumed that one will stay safe from gingivitis.