Routine oral hygiene - a cure for most cases of bad breath

It is important to get into a regular habit of good oral hygiene - in

particular teeth brushing and flossing.

Teeth brushing
Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Use a soft-tufted brush. The head of

the brush should be small enough to get into all the areas of the mouth.

Spend at least two minutes brushing, covering all areas (the inside, outside,

and biting areas of each tooth). Pay particular attention to where the teeth

meet the gum. Get a new toothbrush every 3-4 months. Many people find that an

electric toothbrush does a better job than the traditional toothbrush, and so

they have become popular.
It is usually advised that you use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. (The

fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay.)

Flossing
Floss your teeth at least once a day after brushing, and preferably twice a

day. (Some people who have not flossed before are surprised as to how much

extra debris and food particles can be removed by flossing in addition to

brushing.)
If you are not sure how to floss, then ask your dentist or dental hygienist.

Briefly: the usual floss looks a bit like cotton thread. Cut off about 40 cm.

Wind the ends round your middle fingers of each hand. Then grab the floss

between the thumbs and first finger to obtain a tight 3-4 cm section which

you can pull between teeth. Gently scrape the floss against the sides of each

tooth from the gum outwards. This will clean the narrow spaces between the

teeth which toothbrushes cannot get to. Use a fresh piece of floss each time.

Some people prefer floss 'tape' which slides between teeth more easily than

normal floss. Also, some people use disposable plastic 'forks' with a small

length of floss between the two prongs. The plastic fork may be easier to

hold and manipulate. However, they are expensive.

The gums may bleed a little when you first begin to floss. This should settle

within a few days. If it persists then see a dentist as regular bleeding

after flossing may indicate early gum disease.

Other general tips
Other things which are important to keep your teeth and gums healthy are:

* If you smoke, try to stop. Gum disease is more common in smokers than

non-smokers.
* Eat a well balanced healthy diet. In particular, you should limit the

amount of sugary foods and drinks that you have. Sugars and sugary foods in

the mouth are the main foods that bacteria thrive on to make acid which can

contribute to tooth decay.
* If children need medicines, wherever possible use sugar free medicines.
* Have regular dental checks at intervals recommended by your dentist

(this is normally at least once a year). A dentist can detect excessive build

up of plaque and remove calculus. Early gum disease can be detected and

treated to prevent it from getting worse.


Other things you can do if you have bad breath
The measures above are usually sufficient to look after your teeth. However,

if you also have bad breath coming from your mouth:

* Use an antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day. Just before bedtime is

probably the best time. The mouthwash aims to kill bacteria. (Young children

should not use a mouthwash if they may swallow it.)
* Clean the back of your tongue at least once a day. Some people do this

with a soft toothbrush dipped in mouthwash (not toothpaste). An easier way is

to buy a special plastic tongue scraper from a pharmacy. You need to place it

as far back as you can and then gently scrape forward to clear the tongue of

any coating.
* Some people chew sugar free gum after each meal. Chewing gum increases

the flow of saliva. Saliva helps to 'flush' the mouth to help clear any

debris remaining from the meal.
* If you have dentures and have bad breath, you may not be cleaning them

properly. Ask your dentist for advice as to how best to clean your dentures.