In some ways, bad breath is like an uninvited guest. It can make things uncomfortable, ruin your fun, and make you wish you’d stayed at home. While everyone has bad breath occasionally, it’s not something you want to happen frequently. With that in mind, we want to share five tips on how to prevent bad breath.
1. Brush Your Teeth Twice Daily
Bad breath has several causes. Sometimes, it’s the result of eating particular foods or consuming certain drinks. Coffee, onions, and garlic are some of the most notorious. However, sometimes bad breath is the result of poor oral hygiene. To keep your breath smelling fresh and your pearly whites healthy, you should brush your teeth twice daily. For an extra boost, you can keep a toothbrush at work and brush your teeth after lunch, too!
2. Don’t Forget About Flossing
If you brush your teeth without flossing, you only clean about 60 percent of your tooth’s surface. Oral bacteria love to feed on food particles on the other 40 percent of your tooth. You should floss once each day to clean those hard-to-reach areas. Not only can flossing prevent bad breath, it can also reduce your risk for developing cavities.
3. Keep an Eye on Your Diet
Like we mentioned above, your diet may be responsible for your bad breath. While some bad-breath causing foods are well known, others are more insidious. For example, sugary foods can lead to bad breath.
4. Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly
Quick: when was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? If you can’t remember, that’s a good sign it’s time for a new one! Dr. Hooks recommends replacing your toothbrush every three or four months.
5. Keep Up with Regular Dental Checkups
Sometimes, bad breath is a sign of a more serious dental issue. A great way to reduce your risk for developing serious dental problems is to keep up with your regular visits to our office. This allows our team to ensure your teeth are healthy and to treat any signs of developing problems before they become major issues.
At Hooks Family Dentistry, we strongly advocate preventive dental practices. Contact us at our College Station, Texas office today to schedule an appointment!
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