Bad Breath and Braces
Wearing braces can sometimes cause your breath to smell bad. This is a problem nobody wants to have as knowing you have bad breath can be downright embarrassing! Our orthodontist, Dr. Cohen is often asked by his patients why their breath smells after getting braces so we wanted to discuss the reasons and solutions.
While there are many things that can cause bad breath, such as certain foods, tooth decay or health problems; the main cause of bad breath is bacteria. The bacteria present in your mouth is typically brushed and flossed away for the most part when you’re practicing good oral hygiene. But when you have braces on your teeth, this bacteria has many more places to hide in all those crevices in and around your brackets and wires. When this bacteria is allowed to flourish, it can cause your breath to smell unpleasant.
How to Battle Bad Breath When You’re Wearing Braces
While having bad breath during braces is rather common, it is a problem that’s avoidable. Here are some ways you can keep your breath smelling fresh and clean while you’re wearing braces.
Brush and Floss Like a Pro
It is extremely important to practice good oral hygiene when you’re wearing braces. By doing a superior job of brushing and flossing every day, you should be able to keep your breath smelling fresh and your smile healthy. Arm yourself with all the tools you need to brush and floss well like a good quality toothbrush with soft bristles and a floss threader that makes it easier to floss while wearing braces.
Carry Mouthwash and Dental Picks With You
A good idea is to take a small bottle of antibacterial mouthwash and a few dental picks along with you to school or work. This way, if you cannot brush your teeth after eating, you can at keep your breath smelling fresh. Bacteria thrives on small bits of food left behind so it’s important to get a step ahead of the bacteria that breeds in your mouth. Just swish some refreshing mouth rinse around inside your mouth those times when you can’t brush to keep your breath fresh and use the dental picks to remove trapped particles of food.
Use Breath Mints
While you cannot chew gum with braces to freshen your breath, you can use breath mints as long as you suck on them instead of biting down.
Don’t Neglect Your Dentist
Even though an orthodontist is seeing you, you still need to see your dentist regularly for checkups. Don’t skip these important appointments because your dentist uses this time to check your overall oral health and to see if you have any potential problems that could compromise both your oral health and cause your breath to smell unpleasant.
These tips should help all our patients wearing braces avoid bad breath. If you have questions about keeping your breath fresh, don’t hesitate to contact us as we’re always happy to talk with you!
