Bad breath or halitosis, is a problem that many people experience. It can be caused by multiple factors like genetics, diet, and dental work you have done in your mouth. Bad breath is a pain to deal with, especially if it is something you deal with constantly. If your bad breath is not caused by a bacterial infection like gum disease, there are ways you can combat it and improve your self-confidence. 

Here at Sunset Dental, we want all our patients to have healthy teeth, gums, and tongues. Frequently visiting your dentist for cleanings and X-rays can help catch problems before they become major. Dental cleanings and dental work from our friendly dentist can help you avoid bad breath and other oral bacterial infections.

1- Brush Your Teeth After Eating

Brushing your teeth twice a day is typically enough to keep bad breath at bay, but if you are continually plagued by bad breath, brushing after eating a meal can help. This method can also help prevent bad breath from occurring as well. Removing plaque or odors that occur from eating certain foods will help keep your mouth fresher for longer.

2- Floss Once A Day

Flossing is another way to remove food particles and bacteria from your teeth. Bacteria is the leading cause of bad breath, so keeping build-up from forming will limit the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Proper flossing and brushing are crucial to proper oral health.

3- Brush Your Tongue

When brushing your teeth, don’t forget to scrub your tongue. A good majority of the bacteria in your mouth lives on your tongue, causing bad breath and dry mouth. Using your toothbrush or a tongue scraper can help remove bacteria and lower the odor from your tongue. 

Bacteria and build-up on the tongue will give it a white appearance. Using a tongue scraper can be added to your nightly routine as it is simple to use. 

4- Limit Tobacco Usage

Smoking or chewing tobacco can cause bad breath, stain your teeth, and reduce your taste buds. Consistent use of tobacco can cause oral cancer and other infections in your mouth. These bacteria and the smell of tobacco can contribute to foul breath. Those who smoke tobacco are at a higher risk for tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and jaw problems. 

5- Properly Clean Dentures, Mouthguards, And Bridges

Removing bacteria or particles from dentures, retainers, or other dental appliances will limit bad breath. The smell of unclean appliances may not be coming directly from your mouth, but these smells coming from your mouth can put off those who are around you.

Your dentist can recommend proper cleaning solutions or tools to help you properly reach all the small spaces. Keeping your dentures or mouthguards in a protective case is an easy way to protect them from dirt and dust. 

6- Limit Breathing Through Your Mouth

Dry mouth (Xerostomia) is a contributing factor to halitosis. A decrease in saliva production will result in the mouth not being able to cleanse itself properly. Your saliva is used to remove food particles and bacteria that occur in your mouth in addition to brushing your teeth. Breathing through your mouth can cause your salivary glands to become dry, so limiting mouth breathing can help lower the risk of bad breath. 

7- Drink Plenty Of Water

Another way to increase saliva production is to keep yourself hydrated. Drinking water not only helps to keep your mouth wet, but it also flushes out food, bacteria, and plaque that can contribute to foul breath. Drinking water after a meal will help cleanse the mouth of small particles that were left behind and help combat bacteria until you can brush and floss. 

Proper hydration is important to all aspects of your health, but it can especially help when you feel like your breath may stink.

8- Avoid Certain Foods

Patients who are prone to bad breath should avoid strong foods with lingering odors. Avoiding garlic, onions, spicy foods, and sugary foods, will limit the lingering effects that cause bad breath. Switch some of these foods for leafy greens, vegetables, and fruits for better oral health. 

More About Our Dental Practice

Sunset Dental works hard to provide quality care with a friendly atmosphere to all of our clients. Our dental team provides dental exams and regular cleaning as well as cosmetic dentistry, preventative dentistry, dental implants, root canals, veneers, extractions, and more. No matter your age, our team treats each client with compassion and patience during their dental visit. Reach out to our office to schedule an appointment today!

Gum issues are more common than you may think, especially when it comes to inflammation. Watching for signs of damage to your oral health will help keep your teeth in better shape and prevent irreversible damage. If you are experiencing inflamed gums, there are some foods you could cut out of your diet and care tips to help reduce the inflammation. 

Common Causes Of Gum Inflammation

When patients start to experience gum inflammation, there can be a number of causes that can lead to swelling or inflamed pockets in their gums. One of the most common causes is food particles that get stuck between your teeth and cause irritation. Brushing and flossing regularly will help you avoid irritated gums.

Bacteria or infections are another common cause of gum swelling. Gingivitis, herpes, or oral thrush can all cause pain in the gums. These infections can lead to other symptoms like bad breath, tooth loss, bleeding gums, or receding gums. 

Those who are pregnant can experience swelling in the gums due to rapidly changing hormones. The increased blood flow to many parts of the body, including the gums, can make them swell up or be increasingly sensitive. This gum inflammation is only temporary, but you can follow some home remedies to help reduce pain symptoms. 

1- Gargle Salt Water

There are some home remedies to try before you may need to consult a dentist. One of the ways to help reduce inflammation in your gums is to gargle salt water. Saltwater has been shown to improve wound healing and reduce swelling. 

A salt water rinse can be made with about 1 teaspoon of salt in about a cup of warm water. Swish this around in your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it out. This should temporarily reduce your swelling. 

2- Turmeric Products

Some studies have shown that turmeric gel can help control the plaque on our gums and teeth. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help to reduce the symptoms of gingivitis as well. You can find turmeric gel or powder online or in some drug stores and they can be used to brush your teeth and reduce plaque. 

3- Aloe Vera Gel

Those who have gingivitis can benefit from using aloe vera. Reducing swelling is done by the properties of aloe vera and can even be found in some medicated mouthwash. Using gel from the aloe plant directly can also help with swelling. Rub some aloe gel on the gums and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse well. 

4- Drink Plenty Of Water

Some of the reasons for swollen gums are because of bacteria or leftover food particles. Drinking plenty of water will help remove stubborn particles and keep your gums healthy. Drinking water helps you rinse bacteria out of the gums and increase saliva production. 

How To Prevent Inflamed Gums Before They Occur

There are some extra oral care steps that you can take to help prevent swelling and irritation before it occurs. Taking care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly is the easiest way to prevent inflamed gums. Flossing will help remove food particles in the small cracks of your teeth and brushing will remove plaque.  

Using gentle oral care products like mouthwash without alcohol and sensitive toothpaste will prevent gum sensitivity. Too many chemicals can cause your gums to be stripped and cause inflammation that is extremely painful. 

Other ways to prevent inflamed gums include:

• Limit sugary drinks
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco
• Avoid sharp foods that can get stuck in your gums
• Don’t brush too hard

How Our Dental Practice Can Help

Certain causes of gum inflammation need to be treated with medication or by a dentist. Our dentists at Sunset Dental have worked with patients of all ages and oral problems. We know how to recognize early signs of gum disease or swelling for other reasons. This is why it is crucial for patients to have dental checkups every six months. Cleanings and checkups can help prevent the build-up of bacteria that often is the culprit for inflamed gums. 

If you need regular dental cleaning or other oral help, Sunset Dental has you covered. We offer additional services like night guards, TMJ treatment, dental crowns, root canals, and more! Our practice always welcomes new patients to our family, so if you are looking for a new and knowledgeable dentist, come see Dr. Ryder Waldron.

A crucial step in the oral care routine is to brush your tongue, but many people often forgo this step or don’t do a thorough job of cleaning the tongue. How important is it to brush your tongue? Does it play a big role in the health of the rest of your mouth? We will answer these questions and more in this blog post. 

Why Is It Important To Brush Your Tongue?

Every human mouth has about 20 billion bacteria at any given time, but not all of these bacteria are good. The bacteria in your mouth and the bacteria that settle in the crevices of your tongue can grow quickly, which is why brushing or scraping your tongue is an important part of oral hygiene. Dental cleanings also focus on removing plaque from the teeth and not cleaning the tongue. This puts the responsibility in your hands. 

The “gram-negative” bacteria found in your mouth can lead to bad breath, odd tastes in your mouth, and other oral diseases. Taking care of this bacteria will help you have a healthier mouth and also help it feel more comfortable. Having a sour taste in your mouth or foul-smelling breath is unpleasant for all parties. 

Having build-up on your tongue can also cause your taste buds to weaken. This can make your favorite foods less enjoyable or cause you to have a dry mouth. Cleaning bacteria and plaque off your tongue will help you keep your strong sense of taste. Brush your tongue to avoid discomfort and future oral problems as you age. 

Steps For Properly Brushing Your Tongue

Now you know the importance of clean teeth and a clean tongue, but how do you ensure you are properly cleaning all the bad bacteria out of your mouth? Just like brushing your teeth, when you brush your tongue, there are some tips to ensure you are going to have a healthy mouth.

When brushing the tongue, start at the back of the tongue and slowly worth your way forward. You should use slight pressure in back-and-forth motions, similar to motions made to brush your teeth. Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and you can follow up after brushing with a mouth rinse.

Other Oral Hygiene Practices To Clean Your Tongue

Some may find that brushing their tongue doesn’t free them of bacteria or discoloration on their tongue. Using a tongue scraper can help remove bacteria and give you a fresher feeling. 

In order to clean your tongue with a scraper, place it at the back of your tongue and pull the scraper forward. Use the tool at multiple angles in order to work that bacteria out of the crevices. You can remove loose materials or food particles from your mouth after scrapping by just rinsing with water. 

If you do use a tongue scrapper, make sure to clean it thoroughly after each use. This will ensure you don’t continue to put bacteria into your mouth and defeat the purpose of cleaning your tongue. Cleaning your tongue scraper will help you avoid more bacteria growth and bad breath.

Are There Negatives To Brushing Your Tongue?

Some recent research has shown the effects brushing and scraping can have on the mouth’s microbiome. It can reduce the nitric oxide production in the mouth which is a nutrient that helps the heart and circulatory system. 

While the research is still developing, you should continue to consult with your dentist about what the best practice is for you. Some people benefit more from mouthwash or just routine brushing, while others will need tongue scrapping in addition to brushing their teeth and tongue twice a day. 

Proper Oral Health From Sunset Dental

Brushing your tongue or scraping your tongue is an important part of your oral care. Dental cleanings and fillings also need to be completed in order for you to keep your stunning smile into your older age. Sunset Dental offers multiple general dental services and cosmetic dentistry options to help everyone feel confident in their smile. 

We provide a state-of-the-art facility and quality services for those around the Sunset, UT area. You can always contact our office by phone or email to schedule an appointment or ask any questions before your appointment. We appreciate every person who chooses to support our office or recommends us to others. Sunset Dental could not do this without all of you.