Bad breath is something every person will have to deal with at one point and time. It is a normal part of life as a human. However, its when bad breath is ignored that problems which can put your dental implant at risk may arise. Dr. Dailley and the staff at Anthony Dailley, DDS in Berkeley, CA have decided to put together a quick list of bad breath battling tips for you. We think our dental implant patients, especially those financing their own treatment, will really appreciate these bad breath battle tactics which can be executed without the use of toothbrush or toothpaste.
Carry A Bottle of Alcohol-Free Mouth Wash With You
Mouthwash is a great tool in the battle on bad breath. Swishing vigorously with this stuff can help to loosen trapped food particles that may be lying in between your teeth from lunch. Those particles, when left to sit on your gums, accumulate bacteria and can turn into plaque. Plaque is a major cause of bad breath and gum irritation that can cause gum disease and other oral health problems which can put dental implants at risk.
Another great thing about mouthwash is that it not only helps loosen trapped food particles, but it cleans and kills quite a bit of the bacteria that is sitting on your tongue. Believe it or not, much of the bad breath causing bacteria in your mouth is setting up shop there. It’s like a moist, fluffy bed for bacteria. When you rinse with mouthwash it’s like pouring hydrogen peroxide over an open cut. Thousands of bacteria are killed at once, and its a great tool for fighting bad breath. However, like any method for killing bacteria, they can never be stopped or killed off completely. That’s why it’s still important to brush.
Floss During The Day and After Meals
We know, we know. You’ve been hearing this from dentists for years. But there is a reason, and now that you have a dental implant you might want to take heed. Flossing does loads for your oral health and hygiene. Much like mouthwash, it removes trapped food particles from between your teeth. However, unlike mouthwash, flossing is much more effective at removing those trapped particles than mouthwash is.
The best thing about floss is it can be done at any time of the day and almost in any place. We don’t suggest you pull out a string of the stuff and start going at it in the middle of dinner on a first date, but you get the point. During work after meals when a toothbrush might not be accessible simply step into a bathroom and give your mouth a quick run over. You’ll be surprised at how much doing so will help the state of your breath throughout the day.
Remember, a good smelling mouth is a sign of a clean mouth. A clean mouth means happy gums and happy healthy gums help aid in successful dental implant stories. It’s all connected!
Until next time guys, keep smiling.