It’s no secret that taking care of your teeth can become complicated when braces are involved. Between bulky brackets and the soreness of teeth shifting, there may be times when you just don’t feel like cleaning the whole nine yards. However, think twice because bacteria can quickly produce unpleasant bad breath.
If you’re experiencing bad breath with metal braces or ceramic braces, keep reading to learn five helpful tips to eliminate bad breath!
- Brush & Floss After Each Meal
- Use Mouthwash
- Drink More Water
- Use Sugar-Free Breath Mints
- Reach Out to Your Dentist
Without braces, you should brush at least twice a day for two minutes each time and floss every day. But with braces, you should brush and floss in the morning, at night, and after eating to avoid bad breath and bacteria buildup. With braces, no matter what or when you eat, it is likely that food will get stuck in your teeth.
Keep a travel toothbrush and floss threaders with you to avoid bad breath or embarrassing moments of food stuck in the brackets! This will also help reduce your chance of decay or gum disease from setting treatment back.
If your oral hygiene routine does not involve mouthwash, bad breath might change your mind! Not only will routinely using an antigingivitis mouthwash help eliminate bad breath with braces, but it can also ward off decay.
How much water do you drink in a day? Water is essential for all body functions. It can also help prevent bad breath with braces. Drinking water daily will promote saliva flow and wash away bacteria and food debris.
If brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, and staying hydrated do not help reduce bad breath with braces, take a sugar-free breath mint break. Breath mints are only a temporary fix but can work similarly to gum in quickly freshening your breath — remember, don’t chew gum with braces!
Have you tried all our tips for dealing with bad breath with braces? If so, this might be an indicator of a dental problem. Regularly check in with your dentist to prevent and treat dental disease!
Contact us today to learn more helpful tips during your orthodontic treatment or to schedule an orthodontic visit to OrthodonTEX.
