This article provides six professional tips for busting and preventing bad breath, or halitosis.

1. AdviceAdviceAdviceAdvice fromfromfromfrom thethethethe SilverSilverSilverSilver SpringSpringSpringSpring DentistDentistDentistDentist AboutAboutAboutAbout BadBadBadBad BreathBreathBreathBreath
This article provides six professional tips for busting and preventing bad breath, or
halitosis.
BeatBeatBeatBeat BadBadBadBad BreathBreathBreathBreath TipTipTipTip #### 1:1:1:1: GoodGoodGoodGood OralOralOralOral HygieneHygieneHygieneHygiene
“Good oral hygiene is at the very heart of preventing bad breath, therefore, brushing and
flossing more thoroughly and more often is a must,” say a SilverSilverSilverSilver SpringSpringSpringSpring DentistDentistDentistDentist. “As a rule,
you should be flossing before you go to bed at night and you should brush for two minutes,
three times a day.”
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The tongue is often neglected in the home oral hygiene routine and
yet, it’s full of tiny cracks and crevasses where bacteria can hide.
Stick your tongue out in the mirror. It should be pink all the way to
the back of the mouth - any whiteness or staining is evidence of the
oral bacteria that sour your breath. Brush your tongue or make use
of a tongue scraper to avoid this problem.
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“Smoking causes halitosis, not only because the smell of it seeps into
the soft tissues of your mouth, but also because it causes dry mouth,”
explains a dentist in Silver Spring. “This renders the oral cavity a
more favorable environment for bacterial growth, since saliva
contains anti-bacterial enzymes. Smoking also impedes the natural
healing process and leaves you more vulnerable to infection, tooth loss and oral cancer.”
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No matter how good you are about keeping your teeth clean, there are certain foods and
beverages that will sour your breath. “Pungent foods, such as onion and garlic will immediately
make your breath smell bad, but the real problem behind these foods is that they get absorbed
by the bloodstream and are then exhaled out through the lungs,” explain Silver Spring dentists.
“The same applies to alcohol. Drink enough of it and you’ll literally start breathing alcoholic
fumes.”

2. The best way to remedy bad breath caused by pungent-smelling foods and alcoholic beverages
is to either (1) avoid them entirely, (2) enjoy them WITH your date so that you don’t notice it
on their breath later, (3) decide not to care what other people think!
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“Lots of people suck on mints or other candies in an effort to sweeten
their breath, when in fact it can have the opposite effect,” explains the
dentistdentistdentistdentist inininin SilverSilverSilverSilver SpringSpringSpringSpring. “Anything with sugar in it will encourage
bacteria to flourish in your mouth. And bacteria are responsible for
making your breath bad. So, while an after-dinner mint may sweeten
your breath for ten minutes or so, it will start to sour shortly
thereafter. Chewing sugar-free gum is way better. It also remineralizes
your teeth, neutralizes acid and helps to irrigate your mouth.”
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DentistDentistDentistDentist orororor DoctorDoctorDoctorDoctor
If none of your oral hygiene efforts are paying off, it might be time to
go and see the dentist! You may have an infection somewhere in your
mouth. It is also possible that your problem isn’t oral at all! Certain diseases and infections
elsewhere in the body can cause your breath to go bad. Sinus infections and liver, kidney and
respiratory problems all have “bad breath” listed under their symptoms, so make sure you ask
your Silver Spring dentist for advice!
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