Have you ever had to deal with bad breath? As you know, virtually everyone has. But when your breath isn’t as fresh as you would like, what do you do? If you reach for a breath mint or chewing gum to help your breath, you may want to reconsider–especially if you have to cover bad breath regularly.
In reality, using mints and gum isn’t necessarily a problem–though sugar will feed the bacteria that causes decay. Since most breath mints are made mostly from sugar, we recommend using sugar-free gum with the ADA seal of approval. In fact, chewing sugar-free gum will cover bad breath, but will also promote saliva flow. This will also wash away food particles that can lead to bad breath.
Still, please be aware that if you find yourself struggling with bad breath frequently, gum and mints may only be covering a deeper issue. For example, did you know that certain medications can adversely affect your breath? Similarly, cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay can also cause bad breath. Fortunately, brushing and flossing can help prevent this problem, but we also recommend visiting us at Ridge Park Dental every six months so our dentist can check for these issues–even if you don’t have recurring bad breath.
Remember, brushing and flossing could be the most important thing you can do to fight off bad breath, but if it isn’t enough, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 801-773-5285. Dr. Grant Brough and our team look forward to hearing from you soon!