Do you suffer from halitosis or bad breath as it is commonly called? Do you find that you often have a bad taste in your mouth and wonder if other people can smell your breath when you’re talking to them or close by? If you do, don’t worry, you’re not alone – studies show that nearly 50% of people suffer from bad breath. Believe it or not, one of the main causes of bad breath is dehydration, so if you don’t want to suffer from bad breath then the solution might be as easy as drinking more water.

 

What Causes Bad Breath

There are two main causes for bad breath.

First, your mouth naturally contains tiny bacteria that snack on loose food particles after you eat.  These bacteria release acidic byproducts in your mouth, which not only don’t smell or taste very pleasant but also cause the enamel on your teeth to weaken, leading to cavities.

Second, the cells on the inner lining of your mouth and tongue are continually dying (don’t worry, it’s a normal and natural part of how your body maintains itself) and being replaced by new ones, and the decomposition of those cells also causes an unpleasant odour and taste that can lead to bad breath.

 

How Drinking Water Helps

Saliva naturally contains high levels of oxygen – which bacteria don’t like.  Saliva is your body’s natural defense against the stinky acid-producing bacteria but you need to make sure that you have enough saliva in your mouth to win that fight. If your body is well hydrated then you’ll have lots of saliva in your mouth but if you aren’t drinking enough water and you’re dehydrated then you won’t have as much saliva in your mouth fighting against the bacteria.

Not only does drinking water help by helping your body produce more saliva, but drinking water (and swishing it around your mouth) can help remove food particles from your mouth. With less food to feast on in your mouth, the bacteria will have a tougher time surviving, which is good news for your breath and your teeth.

Drinking water also is a good way to flush the dead cells from inside your mouth, helping to eliminate that source of odour and bad taste.

 

The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene

Of course, another way to stay on top of bad breath is to practice good oral hygiene.  This includes brushing your teeth after every meal to get rid of those loose food particles that bacteria love to feast on. Flossing regularly also helps get rid of food from hard-to-brush places between teeth.

And we’d be foolish not to reinforce the importance of regular trips to your family dentist to help keep your mouth and teeth in tip-top shape. With our full set of dental services, Orion Dental can help keep your entire family’s mouths healthy and smiles white and bright. With offices conveniently located in Milton and Scarborough, evening and weekend hours, and kid-friendly waiting and treatment rooms, taking your family to the dentist has never been easier!