Some people struggle intensely with oral health that leads to bad breath odors. If you have been wondering how you can improve your breath odor, there are a variety of factors at work. Besides the regular care of your teeth and gums, there could be a few habits that have made your mouth a fertile location for bacteria that causes foul smelling odors.
Oral Hygiene Products with Alcohol
If you have been raised with an awareness of oral hygiene products, you’ve probably heard of mouthwashes that contain alcohol, and have been used to seeing them advertised as the best way to freshen your breath.
This is false. Products that contain alcohol have a drying effect on the mouth, which causes harmful bacteria to flourish in the mouth. This is because it stops saliva production that contains powerful enzymes that protect your mouth against these bacteria. Instead, opt for more natural mouthwash products.
No Smoking
This one should be obvious. Smoking has a high presence of tar and other chemicals that are dangerous to the mouth and hygiene. These chemicals can kill helpful bacteria that should be present in the mouth, as well as dry the mouth out making it a breeding ground for harmful bacteria strains.
If you do choose to smoke, keeping the mouth moist and clean is of the greatest importance as continued exposure to high amounts of bacteria can cause gum damage requiring expensive surgeries, or special medical treatments.
Sugary Snacks
Bacteria feeds on sugary snacks and uses it to produce powerful acids. These can damage tooth enamel and expose your teeth to heavy damage and infection. The greater the bacteria population, the greater the chances of your teeth becoming damaged, and anything with hefty amounts of sugar makes this possible.
Cut back on them, and be sure to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth more frequently to counter this influence.
Gooey Starchy Snacks
Soft, starchy snacks can become stuck in the teeth very easily. When you eat things like crackers, be sure to rinse your mouth out and brush thoroughly. This can help you to prevent from creating pockets that collect bacteria and other food particles that can sit and rot in your mouth, especially while you sleep.