Q: Doctor please what can I do? I have a bad Halitosis (bad breath). I have tried all I know but no cure. I need your advice sir.

A: It can be very embarrassing when talking to someone who has a mouth odour. You do want to be polite and look into their faces when they are speaking to you but the stench from their mouths makes this a no-no 😀 Here’s how to prevent this and help someone who’s got this problem. Our top tips for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy and smelling fresh:

Brushing. This sounds very obvious. However, where we were advised to brush at least twice a day before, we are being asked to brush after every meal (three times per day) and especially before bedtime. Brushing removes food debris and stimulates gums.
 • Pack extras: a travel toothbrush and paste in your bag or purse, or keep a set in your office desk so you can brush after lunch.
 • Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3 months and after a cold or flu. You don’t want to pick up germs you’d kicked earlier.
 • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush because hard bristles can damage the gum line if used improperly.

Flossing. This is seen as a grossly over-rated activity but is very key to dental health.
• Floss once a day, preferably at night before brushing. Using dental floss first gives the fluoride in the toothpaste a better chance of reaching between the teeth.
 • People with arthritis and younger children may find floss sticks (also called floss picks), easier to use than the spooled ribbon.

Dental visits
 • Depending on the health of your teeth, your dental visits could be scheduled for every three to nine months,
 • Seniors may need more regular visits, since teeth typically become more brittle with age.
 • Kids should go to the dentist every six to nine months as recommended by your dentist.

Eat Healthy. Some foods actually aid the teeth’s auto cleaning process
•    Apples produce saliva and clean teeth.
•    Hard cheese protects teeth from bacteria and has calcium, which helps rebuild teeth.
•    Choose healthy foods, such as dark chocolate! 😀 (Yep, you heard me!) Researchers at Osaka University in Japan found that parts of the cocoa bean prevent mouth bacteria and tooth decay.
•    Sugar-free chewing gum increases saliva flow and cleans out food debris from teeth.
 
Fight bad breath
 • The tongue usually falls under the radar and oftentimes doesn’t get brushed. Please always brush your tongue. Some tooth brushes come equipped with a tongue brush at the back of the toothbrush…or you could buy a tongue scraper. Whatever you do, just be sure to clean your tongue!

Remember that foods that contain garlic will give you bad breath for a while as it is excreted through your lungs. So, a short term measure may be the use of a non-alcoholic mouthwash. This could also work for those fish dishes 😀 otherwise, try to eat your ‘garlicky’  and fishy 😀 stuff in the evenings!

Let’s keep those teeth pearly white and breath smelling fresh! 😀

Have a great day!

Here’s to a healthier you!