Top tips for excellent oral hygiene

Practicing better oral hygiene is always your best route to warding off bad breath. While chronic halitosis is not completely understood by physicians and dentists there are some key strategies that you can follow to help keep this problem at bay.

Check out these tips to help you avoid bad breath:

• Cleaning the surface of your tongue at least twice a day is one of the most effective ways to keep bad breath under control. Use a toothbrush, tongue cleaner, or tongue scraper to help wipe off any bacterial biofilm, mucus or debris that gathers at the back of the tongue. Take caution, though, to avoid scraping the back of the tongue as it may be damaging. The V-shaped row at the extreme back where to taste buds are located should also be avoided.
• Gargle with CB12 mouthwash right before going to sleep. CB12 helps neutralise the gases in your mouth that cause bad breath and reduces malodour for up to 12 hours.
• Plan a visit your dentist every six months for a regular cleaning.
• Take time out twice a day to brush and floss your teeth and clean the back of your tongue.
• Don’t forget to floss! While it may take a couple extra minutes, flossing is a necessary part of your oral health regime because it removes food debris from between the teeth and the gum line before it starts to rot and cause bad breath, plaque, and cavities.
• Unless advised otherwise by your dentist, dentures should be properly cleaned and soaked each night in antibacterial solution.
• Start the day off with a healthy breakfast that contains fibre/roughage foods that will help to clean the back of the tongue.
• Chewing mint flavoured gum throughout the day might help to decrease bacterial build up through avoiding dry mouth. Gum aids in the production of saliva and promotes mechanical activity; in essence it helps to reduce bad breath. Fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, mastic gum, or even fresh parsley are common folk remedies to prevent bad breath and can be used in the place of chewing gum if you are health conscious.
• Drink water throughout the day to keep the mouth moist and to keep bacteria from gathering on the tongue and teeth.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol; both contribute to dry mouth and the build-up of bacteria.
• Drink water and rinse your mouth after drinking coffee or eating dairy products. Strong tasting foods and foods that smell strong can cause bad breath if you’re not careful.
• Probiotic treatment may also help to suppress malodorous bacteria growth.