Image Dental Blog

 
 

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Dr. Steve Ngo Tackles Common Orthodontic Issue: Bad Breath with Braces

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A common issue many find (often not by themselves but from others) while wearing braces is bad breath. It can be very embarrassing to some – especially teenagers who are already struggling with the appearance of unattractive metal braces. But we do it because we know it will lead to desired results – straightened teeth, which matter!

Dr. Steve Ngo talks about bad breath associated with braces.Why Do Braces Cause Bad Breath?

This is the first question patients typically ask. The answer lies within the world of bacteria. Bacteria is one of the main reasons we even brush and floss to begin with – because an overabundance of harmful bacteria will inevitably lead to tooth decay.

Bacteria naturally occurs inside of our mouth and when there is too much of it, then it will begin to release an odor that gives off bad breath. Bacteria begin to multiply rapidly when it is able to feed on something – such as food particles stuck in our teeth or sugar that has been coated to the enamel.

Here’s where braces plays a role. It’s not the actual braces that cause bad breath, but rather the fact that braces have a tendency to trap food particles on the wiring or brackets, on top of the food particles already becoming stuck in between the teeth.

What You Can Do To Prevent or Fix Bad Breath

The holidays are here and while nobody ever wants bad breath, we absolutely do not want bad breath during the holidays where many family and friends are around. We want to make sure we look, feel, and smell our best during these special times. Here’s what you can do.

The absolute best thing you can do to fix and prevent bad breath is – prepare yourself for it – to habitually brush and floss your teeth! It’s difficult with braces – I understand, but it’s the best defense against bad breath with or without braces.

Other remedies include:

-Making sure the bad breath isn’t sourced from a certain type of food you ate.
-Alcohol free mouth rinses that help rid of bacteria.
-Staying hydrated. Water not only washes away food particles and sugar, but also keeps us from experiencing dry mouth, which can lead to issues with bad breath.

Follow my advice on braces and bad breath and you should be able to see a difference quickly! If you even want to see whether or not your breath smells, hold your palm out slightly in front of your face, blow into it, and observe.

Happy Holidays from our team @ Image Dental OC!

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