The Last Thing You Need is Bad Breath

1. Watch what you eat for breakfast and lunch, as foods which are high in sulphur – onions and garlic – are absorbed into the bloodstream and lungs and get expelled. Proteins, such as, meats and dairy products convert to sulphur through bacteria on your tongue. Sugar also feeds bacteria and contributes to your breath. So eating a hamburger with onions for lunch with a mint candy can cause an effect on your colleagues in the afternoon.

2. Keep your mouth moist to thin your saliva and retain more oxygen – oxygen kills bacteria. So increase the oxygen content in your mouth with frequent drinks of water, sugarless gum or mouth rinses. Mouth washes that contain alcohol (e.g. Listerine) fail to help as they dry out your mouth. A better solution is to use plain water.

3. Clean your mouth: arrange for the tools, the time and a place to brush and floss after each meal and after snacks. As well as brushing and flossing your teeth. Brush your gums, the inside of your cheeks and the roof of your mouth. Rinse well.

4. Scrape your tongue, as bacteria and sulphur that cause bad breath are on the tongue. Brushing the tongue may just spread the debris – mouthwash does not remove it either. The best solution is to scrape it off. We found that Tango scraper works the best. You will be surprised by the globe of debris you remove. After a few scrapings your food tastes better and your sense of smell improves.

5. See your dentist if you can not cleanup your breath, the problem may be caused by periodontal conditions (gum disease) or medical conditions. Get your teeth checked at least twice a year.

Dr. Alexander Osinovsky
Dr. Chetana Saxena
Dr. Marie Banzon
Dr. Howard Miller
Dr. Jennifer Diaz
Dr. Wissam Ali

-Tysons Corner Dentist