At some point in your life, you’ve probably had to deal with bad breath. When you do, do you ever turn to a breath mint or chewing gum? If so you aren’t alone, but are these products really the best thing for your oral health?
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. In reality, recurring bad breath can be the result of a variety of issues. In fact, did you know that bad breath can actually be caused by something as simple as a medication you take? Or that you could have bad breath because of a cavity or gum disease? Fortunately, brushing and flossing can help prevent this problem, but we also recommend visiting us at DeMercy 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 770-641-8010. Dr. DeMercy, Dr. Kossick, and our team look forward to hearing from you soon!