Smile and the world smiles back, but get too close when you have bad breath and you may get a different result.
As a Perth Dentist, in Nedlands Western Australia with a quarter century of experience, I can offer the following tips about oral malodour, contributing factors and remedies.
- In many cases “bad breath” is simply “morning breath” that lasts all day. To prevent drooling on our pillow, Mother Nature has made sure our mouths get very dry at night. The dead cells, food and bacteria all start fermenting and upon awakening …Voila! morning breath! If you skip breakfast, and run off to work, you can be sure of not having many friends. Breakfast is one of the best ways to clean all the smelly debris off your tongue. It is best if you choose something like a crunchy bread roll, or wholewheat toast instead of soft white bread. An apple instead of a banana, crispy cereal instead of soft porridge…I think you get the picture.
- After breakfast make sure you perform perfect oral hygiene.(read some of the other posts on my “Perth Dentists” website for more information) If you didn’t floss or clean between your teeth before bed, don’t skip it now, as that is a sure way to get periodontal disease and oral malodour. Lastly scrape your tongue, making sure to reach the posterior third, in the centre, where most of the odour causing germs hide. Be careful not to injure the row of very large mushroom-like taste-buds back there! Some people can brush their tongue but I find it gags me, and I can do a better job with a specially designed scraper. Chew a piece of sugar-free gum, preferably sweetened with Xylitol, on your way to work. This stimulates saliva flow and also has a breath freshening effect.
- Anything that dries out your mouth like stress, air conditioning, not drinking enough water, medication, alcohol containing mouthwashes, smoking and mouth breathing when you have allergies combined with “post-nasal-drip” helps the smell generating germs on the back third of your tongue. Chewing gum (as above) several times a day can increase your saliva flow rate, but only if you drink enough water, and stop or reduce drying medication (consult your GP first)
- Using a mouthwash with Chlorhexidine, for 2 consecutive days a week, can be useful. my patients are advised on certain brands that don’t stain the teeth. Also you shouldn’t use it right after brushing with normal toothpaste as it reduces the effect. Don’t use it all the time.
This article is solely the professional and individual opinion of Perth Dentist, Dr. Clifford Yudelman in Nedlands, Western Australia and does not replace the professional guidance of your own personal dentist. He/she is the best person to counsel you on specific products for your specific situation. Please consult with them if you have any questions regarding anything mentioned in this article.
