Top Bad Breath Treatment Options for a Fresher You

Dealing with bad breath—also known as halitosis—can be a frustrating experience. It’s a common oral health issue, but if left untreated, it can negatively impact your daily life. So, it’s important to remember that there are multiple treatments available, from simple home remedies to professional treatments, that can freshen up your breath in no time.

Bad Breath Treatment in OKC

Professional Dental Treatment Options for Fresh Breath

Your dentist can perform a dental cleaning and remove bacteria, plaque buildup, and tartar from your teeth and gums. This thorough procedure can effectively kill bacteria in your mouth and reduce bad breath. Your dentist can also address other dental issues like an oral cavity and oral infection to not only alleviate mouth odor but also improve your overall oral health.

Remember—having your teeth professionally cleaned regularly, at least once every six months, will help you avoid bad breath and other potential dental hygiene problems down the line.

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Natural Home Remedies to Fight Bad Breath

With the right approach, bad breath can be easy to resolve, allowing you to enjoy fresh breath and return to your daily activities with confidence. Here are some lifestyle changes you can try at home to address bad breath:

Hydrate

The easiest way to get rid of bad breath is by keeping your body hydrated by drinking lots of water throughout the day. Bad breath comes from bacteria and food particles in your mouth, so if you drink plenty of water, you can wash them away and keep your mouth moist, which also helps prevent dry mouth. Overall, this lessens the likelihood of bad breath.

Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste can effectively combat bad breath. You can also consider toothpaste with an antibacterial agent specifically designed to eliminate bacteria in the mouth, helping avoid dental issues like bad breath. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and make each session last for two minutes to ensure that your teeth, tongue, and gums are properly cleaned.

Floss Daily

For improved dental hygiene, floss your teeth daily. A lot of food debris and particles get stuck in between your teeth and even your toothbrush won’t be able to reach them. So, regularly floss to keep your mouth clean and free of bad breath.

Sugar Free Gum

Chewing gum that contains low or no sugar stimulates saliva production. This helps neutralize acids in the mouth and prevent bad breath.

Apple Cider Vinegar

You can gargle with water and apple cider vinegar to help restore the balance of pH levels in your mouth and combat bacteria.

Baking Soda

Make a homemade mouthwash with baking soda. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate can combat bad bacteria and neutralize acids in the mouth, which can help lessen bad breath.

Chewing Herbs

Chlorophyll-rich herbs and foods like parsley, basil, rosemary mint, kale, and cilantro can give you fresh breath.

Tongue Scraping

Most bad breath comes from a bacteria-coated tongue. Use a tongue scraper to get rid of the food particles and bacteria in the back of the tongue and follow it up with a mouth rinse. This eliminates the food and bacteria that produce odors.

Clean dental accessories

Keep your dental hygiene accessories like your toothbrush, tongue scraper, and mouth guard clean. Without proper cleaning, they provide bacteria with the perfect environment to grow in. So, replace your toothbrush every three to four months and your scraper after several months to a year. Mouthguards are typically replaced once or twice a year, depending on your dentist’s instruction. However, always remember to sanitize them after every use and store them properly in a clean container.

Dietary Changes to Eliminate Bad Breath

Another effective treatment for bad breath is choosing the right foods and drinks that can help reduce bad breath. Here are some dietary changes you can consider for fresher breath:

  • Eat vitamin C-rich foods like strawberries, oranges, and bell peppers
  • Eat high-fiber foods such as apples (with skin), bananas, and spinach
  • Eat plain, nonfat yogurt that contains healthy bacteria (lactobacillus)
  • Drink a glass of low- or full-fat milk after meals
  • Eat crunchy fruits and veggies like apples, celery, and carrots
  • Limit consumption of coffee, alcohol, dairy products, tobacco products, and sugar-rich treats
  • Use natural supplements as mouthwash such as tea tree oil and zinc mixed with warm water or coconut oil
  • Take zinc dietary supplement
patient and dentist at a dental clinic

Causes of Bad Breath

Halitosis can be caused by a number of factors, including:

The most common cause of bad breath or halitosis is the lack of proper oral hygiene. Odor-causing bacteria in your mouth are the perfect breeding ground for bad breath, as bacteria feed on leftover food particles before releasing foul-smelling sulfur compounds. So, when you have poor oral hygiene, you fail to clean out these food particles and bacteria in between your teeth, gums, and tongue.

Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth can cause bad breath due to decreased saliva production and an altered pH balance. Without enough saliva, the environment inside the mouth becomes conducive to bacteria growth, which over time leads to bad breath.

When you have gum disease, your mouth becomes more susceptible to bacteria growth. Gum disease can lead to gum inflammation and abscesses where bacteria can thrive and emit foul odors.

Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco can cause bad breath because of the chemicals lingering in your mouth and lungs. Tobacco use can also lead to dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease while also giving you a dry mouth. These factors can all contribute to bad breath.

What you choose to eat and drink can also cause bad breath (e.g. onion or garlic breath). This is because certain foods have strong odors and volatile compounds that linger in the mouth and temporarily affect breath odor. For instance, spicy food, garlic, onions, alcohol, soda, and cheese, as well as acidic or sugary foods all contribute to mouth odor. The food you eat stays in your system for days and the sulfur compounds are absorbed into your bloodstream, so some of these odors can remain even after brushing.

Specific medical conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinus infection, chronic dry mouth, liver or kidney disease, tonsil stones, and other mouth and throat conditions can contribute to bad breath.

What to Expect During Your Halitosis Assessment

Some people don’t realize they have bad breath, while others think their mouth odor is worse than it really is. Since it can be challenging to gauge whether you have halitosis yourself, we suggest that you first ask a close friend or family member to help you determine whether you’ve got halitosis. However, if you prefer a professional diagnosis, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your trusted dentist for a halitosis assessment.

Your dentist may perform a physical examination of the mouth, throat, and nose. They will look for any signs of oral health issues that could be causing bad breath. This is typically followed by an odor assessment wherein your dentist evaluates the odor emitted by your mouth. They may also use dental devices to determine whether you’ve got halitosis.

How To Maintain Fresh Breath

Your journey doesn’t end when you eliminate bad breath—it’s essential that you maintain your fresh breath by keeping these in mind:

Consistent Home Care

Stick to a good oral hygiene routine to ensure that your mouth not only remains odor-free but also free of dental issues. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, use a tongue scraper, and be mindful of your dietary and lifestyle choices.

Regular Dental Visits

Nothing beats professional oral cleaning, so remember to arrange regular dental visits and have an experienced dentist help you take care of your oral health.

a dentist performing a dental examination on her patient

At Dental Innovations, our qualified team of dental professionals ensures that our patients receive only the best care in Oklahoma City. With our patient-first approach and advanced technology, we always aim to exceed expectations and help our patients achieve their most beautiful and healthiest smiles.