Ever been worried that your breath might smell unpleasant? It probably did, but the good news is that you’re not alone. According to experts everyone experiences bad breath at some point – they call it halitosis. While it is rarely a serious medical issue, we all know how it can affect our self-confidence. In fact, bad breath has even been linked to causing social anxiety and depression.
Luckily the Oral Hygienists Association of South Africa (OHASA) have offered their help. Below are their top tips to achieving fresh breath.
Teeth brushing
The key to beating bad breath is removing bacteria and food debris from your mouth. If not removed, these will break down and decay, releasing foul odours in the process. This is the main cause of bad breath. Therefore the first step in keeping your breath odour-free is brushing. Brushing your teeth properly, for two full minutes twice a day, is paramount to keep your breath and your teeth happy.
However, even when done correctly, brushing your teeth only removes about half the plaque on your teeth and gums. So while this is the first important step, on its own, brushing is not enough to prevent oral malodour. That’s why the professionals at OHASA have provided the next four steps to take.
Cleaning between your teeth
Toothbrushes can’t reach right between your teeth, therefore daily interdental cleaning is necessary. This will remove any remaining plaque or trapped food debris. According to OHASA, only about a third of South Africans clean in-between teeth daily and about 40% of them are not doing it correctly. No wonder an estimated half of our population have bad breath at any one time.
Anri Bernardo, recently-elected president of OHASA says interproximal care is extra important for people with bleeding gums or periodontal disease. ‘Even when periodontal disease is under control, the gums may have receded, forming food traps. It’s vital to clean these areas correctly to prevent further infection as well as bad breath,’ Anri advises.
Dirna Grobbelaar, Ivohealth’s oral hygiene advisor and OHASA member, says there’s no excuse not to clean in-between, especially with the multitude of tools available to make it a simple process. ‘If you don’t like flossing, try picks (like the award-winning rubber GUM Soft-Picks) or an oral irrigator. Tiny interdental brushes, such as the GUM Bi-Direction which has a unique, bendable head so you can even reach between teeth at the far back of the mouth, make excellent options for anyone with orthodontic braces, implants or gaps between the teeth,’ says Dirna.
Care for your tongue
Oral hygiene is not just about the teeth! Especially when it comes to beating bad breath, the tongue plays a big role. Stella Lamprecht, a past president of the OHASA, recommends gentle scraping every day. ‘The tongue’s surface has tiny grooves where bacteria and plaque can accumulate. Everyone, from children to older people, should incorporate tongue cleaning into their daily routine. If you do it before bed, it can help prevent morning breath.’
While using your toothbrush to lightly scrub your tongue is ok, getting a tongue scraper is the best option.
Rinse
Using mouthwash as a final step can give added fresh-breath confidence. Use saltwater or an alcohol-free rinse like Dentyl Dual Action or Sunstar GUM Original White. You can make a saltwater solution at home by simply mixing table salt into warm water – it’s one of the simplest and easiest ways to clean out your mouth. Alternatively, chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva and naturally ‘rinse’ the mouth.
Turn to the professionals
For good measure, Stella Lamprecht further recommends a regular professional deep clean. ‘When an oral hygienist scales and polishes the teeth, they eliminate plaque and tartar build-up that you are unable to remove yourself with usual brushing and flossing,’ explains Stella.
But there’s more to benefit from regular visits to an oral hygienist than beating bad breath. ‘The bacteria that cause bad breath, also irritate the gums and cause cavities,’ Stella says. ‘Once you have bleeding gums, “bad” bacteria can enter your bloodstream and this increases your risk of more serious health problems including dementia, heart disease, strokes, kidney problems and even pre-term births. Effective oral hygiene is a vital part of caring for your health and wellness.’
To find the best cleaning regime and tools to suit your mouth and lifestyle, chat with your oral hygienist. For further advice on beating bad breath you can read this article, supplied by Ivohealth.
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