Beating bad breath
Q. The other day my friend told me I had bad breath. Now I’m paranoid. How can I make sure I don’t get it again?
A. Everyone gets bear breath occasionally. It can be the result of garlicky food, certain medications, or illness. But the best way to prevent the killer, spontaneous kind is to follow good dental hygiene. Jan Linhart, D.D.S., a New York City dentist, recommends the following regimen:
• brush often
Clean your teeth after each meal—especially if you have braces. Bad breath is often caused by plaque left on your teeth by decaying food and bacteria. If you can’t do a post-lunch brush, rinsing your mouth with water will help.
• brush thoroughly
Make sure you hit every surface of every tooth. To get really clean teeth, you should be brushing for a minimum of two minutes. Lightly brushing the back of your tongue will also help to clear your mouth of odor-causing bacteria.
• don’t forget to floss
It’s essential if you want get-close breath—not to mention healthy teeth and gums.
• see your doc
Twice-yearly professional cleanings will help keep bad breath at bay. But if you’re doing everything right and still have a problem, make an appointment pronto. It could mean you have a cavity or infection.
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