Have Stinky Breath? Mints Aren't Enough
Food, Metabolism Can Cause Odors In Mouth
CLEVELAND -- Keeping breath fresh is as much a part of people's daily routine as getting ready in the morning.
But are we doing the right things? Many people don't realize that bad-breath relief is much more than just popping a mint.
Some mints, gum, mouthwash and mouth strips are so strong that you can smell them across the room. But the battle against bad breath goes far beyond getting that refreshing feeling, according to dentists.
"The type of food you eat and your metabolism can also cause a lot of problems as far as food sitting around in your stomach and causing odor," said Dr. P.J. Goyal, a dentist in Maple Heights, Ohio.
So until the spaghetti and garlic bread you had for dinner actually leave your system entirely, all of the effort to get rid of the odor only masks the smell and doesn't last very long anyway.
If you don't eat spices, then food probably isn't the culprit of bad breath. Instead, dentists said you could be headed for serious dental disease, like gum and tooth decay.Goyal said that's when good, old-fashioned brushing after every meal is important. And people shouldn't forget to brush their tongues as well.
"Brushing will remove the food off the front surface and back surface of teeth, but does not approach in between teeth," he said.
Goyal said that's where flossing comes in. As much as people hate to do it, flossing every night before bed removes the stuff they can't see, so it helps to avoid that dreaded smell.
So before you grab another pack of Altoids, keep this mind."It comes to a situation (that) when you're taking too (many mints, it) could cause a problem to the teeth," he said.
Mints and gum increase the chance of having cavities, according to Goyal. He also suggested getting your teeth professionally cleaned regularly -- about every six months.
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