Common issues during orthodontic treatment – Bad breath

Orthodontic treatment certainly helps in achieving a bright, beautiful smile. The time you spend wearing braces and the efforts you put into getting used to the braces is actually an investment for getting good health and a confident smile. However, having braces on your teeth can be a challenging task in your life. Challenges are not limited to just having to adopt braces, but you have to also keep yourself away from bad breath.

This blog tries to address the bad breath issue. There's no reason for you to believe you have to accept bad breath just because you are undergoing orthodontic treatment.  

Here are some Fresh Breath tips From Charlton Village Dental Practice:  

Choice of Food: 

Here are some of the food items causing bad breath during orthodontic treatment:  

1.Garlic and onions. 

2.Coffee and alcohol. 

3.Sticky foods, for example chocolate.  

4.Foods that are loaded with sweetness can contribute to bad breath. 

5.Beverages having sugar contents. 

Chewing sugarless gums acts as a remover of food and dead cells from teeth, gums, and tongues. Not just that, it promotes the production of salvia. We encourage you to discuss with our team the type of food you should take during orthodontic treatment.  

Stay Hydrated  

Water not only flushes the mouth but also produces saliva, which acts as a constant cleansing agent. It dissolves the substance of food and drinks from your mouth. A continuous dry mouth leads to bad breath as it reduces the production of saliva which removes bacteria and excess food from your mouth – both of which cause bad breath. 

Brush often  

Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day. If possible brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste first thing in the morning and before you go to bed. This removes food particles and bacteria that cause bad breath. Not just teeth, you should brush your tongue as well because the tongue holds a lot of bad smell bacteria which can cause bad breath. You should brush your tongue gently without being harsh on it. 

Flossing  

Flossing with braces might seem tricky, but it is a necessity. Ask our team at Charlton Village Dental Practice to teach you the best way to floss effectively with braces. Flossing can remove plaque and bacteria from between your teeth, where your toothbrushes can't reach. Flossing should be done at least once a day to avoid bad breath during orthodontic treatment. 

Mouthwash Use  

Mouthwash generally provides a temporary cure for bad breath, but sometimes it acts well to get away from being noticed for bad breath. An antiseptic mouthwash acts better as it kills bad bacteria. It works more than just an ordinary mouthwash. Look for mouthwashes with chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide, zinc chloride, and triclosan, or if you are confused, use the mouthwash recommended by our dentist for the best results. You should swish the mouthwash around in your mouth for 30 seconds. Mouthwash certainly helps to avoid bad breath during your orthodontic treatment. 

Smoking or chewing tobacco 

Bad breath is one of the side effects of smoking and tobacco apart from many other life-threatening effects that smoking and tobacco cause. Smoking and tobacco should be strictly avoided to keep away from bad breath and severe diseases like Cancer.