Easy Fresh Breath Tip

Posted on Apr 21, 2014 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

It’s always unpleasant to have a conversation with someone who has bad breath. Once it occurs, the memory of it tends to stick in our minds. It becomes what we think of each time we encounter them thereafter, even if their breath is fine.

Persistent bad breath is a symptom of Periodontal Disease, along with tender gums that bleed when you brush. However, if you are worried about occasional bad breath, be sure to floss daily and brush at least twice a day. In addition, here is a tip many people are unaware of how greatly it helps remove oral bacteria (the cause of standard ‘halitosis’).

After brushing your teeth, take your toothbrush and go over the entire surface of your tongue, especially in the back. Although you may gag when far back, this action is well worth it. The tongue, with its many grooves, provides an excellent home for bacteria to embed. The back of the tongue tends to harbor these bacteria the best.

You can also purchase a tongue scrapper at the drug store in the toothbrush section. Run this over your tongue a few times (rinsing after each swipe) to remove a great deal of bacteria in 3-4 passes.

Finally, use your toothbrush to clean other parts of your mouth after brushing. Run it over the roof of your mouth, under the tongue and inside the cheeks and lips. Finish with several good swishes of water.

You don’t have to fear being “that person” who leaves a bad breath impression! Decrease the bacteria in your mouth and you’ll give your breath a leg up!

If, however, your bad breath is frequent and you are experiencing tenderness or bleeding of the gums, you have Periodontal Disease. This will only worsen without treatment. Call (828) 297-9440 for an appointment.