The natural bacteria living in your mouth can give off unpleasant odors. Even if you brush and floss your teeth consistently, plaque can still build up on soft oral tissues, contributing to chronic bad breath.
When brushing, you should try to focus on working the bristled head in a circular motion around each face of the tooth. It should take you approximately two to three minutes to fully brush both sets of teeth. This will help reduce the bacterial load in your mouth.
You can then clean your tongue by gently brushing it with your still wet toothbrush. There are also special tongue scrapers sold in stores. This is typically a small plastic handle with a mild edge on one side. You should work from front to back making multiple overlapping sweeps. If you notice a buildup of material on the blade edge, you should rinse it off before making another pass over your tongue.
You should then floss between your teeth and along the gumline to physically remove the bacterial deposits from these areas. Be sure to also focus on flossing behind your last molar as food particles and plaque can easily collect in this often forgotten area.
You can conclude in your oral hygiene routine by vigorously rinsing your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash. If you live in the Port Orchard, WA, area and you have bad breath or other oral hygiene issues, you can call 360-876-0445 to speak to Dr. Fisher, Dr. Bergevin, or a member of staff at Fisher Distinctive Dentistry.