Have Bad Breath? Not cool at all! Everyone knows that having bad breath can be embarrassing, but did you know that bad breath can be a sign of something more serious? There are a couple of reasons that can cause bad breath, and the main culprit is always Gingivitis.

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. Imagine smiling and showing off your bright, puffy, tender, red gums to your hot date? Think they’ll come back for another one? I didn’t think so. But seriously, left untreated, Gingivitis can lead to serious periodontal issues.

What causes Gingivitis?

Think your red, tender, swollen gums weren’t enough? How about a clear sticky substance that adheres to your teeth and makes them look like tiny marshmallow chunks? Yuck! So, what are those tiny marshmallow pieces called anyway? I’m glad you asked. They’re called plaque.

What is Plaque?

When you eat or drink and don’t brush your teeth, the bacteria in your mouth tends to feed off leftover food particles. Like anything else that eats, it must release waste. So in other words, your mouth is being used as a toilet for the bacteria. Ewww!

So, what causes Bad Breath?

The waste (also known as plaque) left behind after the bacteria in your mouth has done feeding is what causes you to have bad breath, also called halitosis. Makes sense doesn’t it? Who said a mouth full of bacteria waste would smell good?

What can I do?

The first thing you should do is go see your Dentist or Hygienist. Getting a full dental checkup will uncover any hidden problems that can escalate to more serious complications if left untreated, such as swollen, tender gums and halitosis.

Here’s an interesting fact: After visiting your dentist and getting a good cleaning, your mouth will only have 24 to 48 hours before plaque starts to form all over again. Yup, that’s right! 24 to 48 hours. So, don’t believe that after you visit the dentist your mouth is rid of plaque forever. It’s not! If not treated, halitosis will be next to visit.

Secondly, good oral hygiene at home is very important to prevent or treat gingivitis and its nasty symptoms such as bad breath.

What supplies do I need to combat Bad Breath?

Toothbrush: Use a soft nylon toothbrush two times a day. Why? Because nylon toothbrushes are more sanitary and help get rid of unwanted plaque easily. The toothbrush I always recommend and personally use is the Oral B Battery Powered Toothbrush.

FYI: Don’t just brush for thirty seconds and that’s it! The minimum recommended time you should brush your teeth is 2 minutes. Also brush your tongue! Get rid of all that white stuff on your tongue, which is leftover bacteria waste. Let me put it this way… think of your tongue as a rug with white residue that will eventually smell if not cleaned up right a way.

Floss: I ask my patients all the time if they remember to floss, and most of the time the answer is "No". Unfortunately, my patients tend to believe that brushing is enough, but in reality it’s not. Brushing cannot reach all areas of the mouth that food and plaque particles tend to hide, so that’s where dental floss comes in. My number one choice when it comes to dental floss is Oral B Glide. It works great, and it’s easier to use than traditional dental floss.

Mouthwash: Before you can become make-out friendly, you will need to kill the bacteria that brushing and flossing sometimes leave behind. I highly recommend Crest Pro Health mouthwash. The reason I recommended this particular mouthwash is that it gets the job done without the painful alcohol ingredient that other mouthwashes usually have. How do I know? I use it myself, and believe me, I’m always make-out friendly.