Oral hygiene
The treatment of bad breath coming from within the mouth is good oral hygiene.
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.
Average rating:
Linda Cattrell, about 1 year
I found this page very helpfull, as I always thought to floss AFTER brushing. I do brush and floss twice a day, morning and evening but as I said I always floss after brushing.
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