Dealing with halitosis, more commonly referred to as bad breath, can certainly be embarrassing for anyone. If you notice your breath is beginning to smell foul, even though you’ve been brushing on a regular basis, it could be the result of more than just poor brushing practices.
Maybe you brush on a regular basis, once or twice a day. That’s a good start but it’s not enough to ensure healthy gums, teeth, and good breath.
Proper oral care occurs when you focus on three aspects: brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. Skipping one or more of these tasks can increase the chances that you will be dealing with bad breath on a regular basis well into the future.
What causes bad breath?
Usually bad breath is a result of bacteria that’s allowed to grow unfettered in your mouth. The mouth contains millions of bacteria and a lot of it is necessary for helping to break down food particles for proper digestion. However, there are also a significant amount of bacteria that are the residual result of the food and beverages that you consume.
When you don’t brush at least twice a day, floss each time, and rinse with mouthwash, you are not getting the maximum amount of bacteria out of your mouth.
The longer the bacteria is allowed to fester, the more likely you will begin to experience bad breath. When you notice your breath beginning to turn foul, make sure you start with a good, soft to medium bristled toothbrush, toothpaste with fluoride, brush for at least two minutes each time, at least twice a day and preferably after every meal, floss between each tooth, and then rinse with mouthwash for at least two minutes.
If you do this you should notice your breath beginning to smell fresher, providing you more confidence into the future.