Bad breath? The dental hygienist advises!

An unpleasant smell coming from your mouth is anything but pleasant. It can make you insecure or even interfere with your (love) life. Despite the impact, many people continue to struggle with this problem for a long time. For example, over 15% of the Dutch population suffers from chronic bad breath. This is quite a high percentage and it is growing every year. The biggest reason for this is the deteriorating health of people. This is caused by many factors, including excessive exposure to stress, lack of exercise and relaxation, eating (highly) processed foods, excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine and the use of medicines. We have written an article about the latter before. 

But there are many more causes. A chewing gum now and then to cover up the smell unfortunately only works for a short while. But what does work? Oral hygienist Ilse Hilgenkamp, from Mondhygiëne praktijk Vechtdal in Dalfsen in the Netherlands, gives the following advice to her clients as standard.

Expert tips to prevent bad breath

1. Visit the dental hygienist

The condition of your gums plays a vital role in the smell of your breath. Deep pockets (the space between your gums and teeth) can harbour bacteria that start to produce a sulphuric odour the longer they’re there. Getting your gums checked periodically and thoroughly cleaned if necessary is a must when it comes to smelly breath.

2. Proper cleaning

Whether you have deep pockets or not, proper daily cleaning is also very important. Bacteria can settle in even the narrowest ‘gaps’, so it is important to brush and floss well every day.

3. Drink water and ginger tea

Research has shown that starting your day by drinking or rinsing with a glass of water can eliminate up to 60% of the bacteria that contribute to bad breath. Daily 2 cups of fresh ginger or mint tea can help to neutralise any odours in your mouth more quickly. 

4. Tongue scraping

In Oriental cultures, it has for centuries been an indispensable part of good (oral) health: scraping the tongue. It also removes bacteria from the back of the tongue. When brushing the tongue with a brush, many bacteria often remain behind. 

Did you know that blue®m has recently added a new tongue scraper to its range?

5. Avoid spicy foods

Spicy foods such as peppers, onions and garlic, products high in acid and insufficient fluid intake can contribute to unpleasant odours. Food intolerances also play a role in the development of bad breath (e.g. gluten and lactose).

6. Chewing gum or mouth spray

For a temporary solution, sugar-free sweets, a fresh mouth spray or chewing gum with xylitol can be a solution. The dental chewing gum from blue®m contains the unique oxygen formula, which includes Manuka honey, which effectively fights bacteria and therefore counteracts bad breath. But of course, you’d rather get to the root of the problem.