Fight Bad Breath with Dental Hygiene

Although there are numerous products designed to freshen your breath, there is no getting around the fact that good dental hygiene is the best way to combat bad breath. Aside from some illnesses, bad breath is almost exclusively caused by certain oral bacteria. These bacteria are constantly forming plaque (a clear, sticky substance) so that they can attach themselves to your teeth. If plaque remains on teeth for 48 hours, it will harden into tartar, a substance that a toothbrush and dental floss cannot remove. Therefore, in order to keep your breath fresh and prevent your oral health from declining, it is up to you to remove plaque by brushing and flossing before it can form tartar. Unfortunately, even in the midst of the most diligent home care, tartar may begin to build on teeth. Thankfully, though, you can keep tartar from damaging your teeth and creating bad breath by attending regular dental cleanings with your Albuquerque NM dentist, Dr. Mark Miller.

A Closer Look at Bad Breath Remedies

As mentioned earlier, dental hygiene is the best remedy for bad breath. However, you may be wondering whether other methods are worth pursuing. The answer depends upon the method you choose. Gum and mints, for instance, tend only to feed the problem. It is true that they will temporarily mask bad breath. However, because most gums and mints contain sugar, they will only feed the bacteria responsible for bad breath instead of removing them. Sugar-free gum, on the other hand, can prove useful in stimulating saliva production, which is desirable because saliva has anti-bacterial properties. You can also achieve a similar effect by sipping water.

The Benefit of Dental Cleanings

When you attend a dental cleaning with your Albuquerque NM dentist, Dr. Miller, you are putting yourself under the care of experienced professionals. To begin your appointment, a trained hygienist will use special dental instruments designed to remove stubborn tartar from teeth. With tartar removed, the bacteria responsible for bad breath will no longer be attached to your teeth. However, dental cleanings do more than freshen your breath. They also allow Dr. Miller to examine your teeth for any worrisome symptoms. While examining your teeth, Dr. Miller will look for signs of oral health problems ranging from bruxism (teeth grinding) to gum disease. If he notices any potential issues, Dr. Miller can intervene early, restoring your oral health.

About Snowpark Dental: Dr. Mark Miller of Snowpark Dental is a respected dentist with extensive training in implantology. Patients can contact Dr. Miller by calling (505) 596-4479 to schedule an appointment or a consultation.

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