Oral Health

Whether you’re at work, hanging out with friends or just going about your day, having fresh breath gives you an extra boost of confidence. It’s also a reflection of your oral health.

After recently celebrating National Fresh Breath Day 2024, which was held on August 6, our Naperville dentists wanted to share some actionable tips. In this post, we’ll be covering how to keep your breath fresh all day long.

1. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is key to keeping your mouth moist and smelling fresh. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day and swishing with water after eating helps wash away food particles and bacteria, which are often responsible for unpleasant odors in the mouth. Sipping water also stimulates saliva production, providing a natural defense against bad breath.

2. Brush and Floss Regularly

Brushing and flossing every day keeps the bad odors away. Be sure to brush your teeth in the morning and before bed for two full minutes each time using a soft-bristled toothbrush.

As for the best toothpaste for fresh breath, go for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which indicates the toothpaste contains fluoride and that the manufacturer provided clinical evidence to support the product’s safety and efficacy.

Still have bad breath after brushing? That could be because brushing only cleans about 60% of the surface area of your teeth. Flossing is critical for removing plaque and food particles from in between the teeth and around the gumline. To bring out the best in your breath, you’ll need to floss at least once daily, preferably at night, so nothing is left on your teeth while you’re sleeping and saliva production is slow.

3. Add Mouthwash to Your Daily Routine

Incorporating a quality mouthwash into your oral hygiene routine provides an extra layer of protection against bad breath. Swishing it in the morning and at night gets rid of any lingering bacteria and food.

According to the American Dental Association, when choosing the best mouthwash for fresh breath, look for one that contains active ingredients, such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) or essential oils. These kill the bacteria associated with the unpleasant odors instead of covering them up.

We’d also suggest going for an alcohol-free option, especially if you suffer from dry mouth, because alcohol can dry the oral tissues out, which is a trigger for bad breath.

4. Scrape Your Tongue

Though brushing, flossing and swishing will go a long way in keeping breath fresh, bacteria also like to cling to the tongue. If your oral health is good, you can get away with carefully brushing your tongue with your toothbrush. If you have a coating on your tongue from bacterial overgrowth, which can happen if you’re a smoker or you have dry mouth, using a tongue scraper once a day is your best bet.

5. Clean Restorations and Appliances

Be sure to clean dentures and bridges daily. You’ll also want to clean your retainers, mouthguards or Invisalign® aligners before putting them in your mouth. Otherwise, you’re increasing the amount of bacteria in your mouth, which, as we’ve established, is one of the major causes of bad breath.

6. Chew Sugar-Free Gum

A lot of mints and breath sprays mask odors. The benefits are only temporary and, sometimes, your breath is even worse once the effects dissipate. Chewing sugar-free gum is a better way to keep your breath fresh all day.

While chewing sugarless gum anytime will freshen your breath on the go, chewing it after meals is particularly effective. This is because it dislodges food particles and stimulates the flow of saliva, neutralizing acids and preventing smelly bacteria from setting up shop in your teeth.

The best gum for fresh breath is often one that contains xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that helps to zap cavity-causing bacteria. Strong flavors like mint or cinnamon will have the biggest impact on your breath.

7. Watch Your Diet

Foods and drinks like garlic, onions and coffee are notorious for causing bad breath. The sulfur compounds in garlic and onions are actually absorbed in your bloodstream and released when you exhale, so the effects can last for hours. Avoid odor-creating foods and beverages before important events where you need to have fresh breath. When you do enjoy them, brush afterwards.

For full-day fresh breath power, opt for smile-friendly foods. Crunchy fruits and vegetables like peppers, apples, carrots and broccoli stimulate saliva, help remove plaque as you eat them and create an inhospitable environment for oral bacteria.

Sugar-free yogurt with probiotic bacteria is another breath freshener. Researchers at Tsurumi University in Japan found that eating it reduced the levels of odor-causing sulfide compounds, most notably hydrogen sulfide, by 80% over six weeks.

Lastly, give herbs a try. Parsley contains chlorophyll, which is thought to have a deodorizing effect on the mouth. Other options like fennel seeds, cloves, mint and anise have been used to freshen breath for centuries as well.

8. Book a Dental Exam and Cleaning

Keeping up with routine dental exams and cleanings is one of the most powerful things you can do to maintain fresh breath and optimal oral health. During professional cleanings, the hygienist uses special tools to remove plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) that regular brushing can’t, leaving your smile clean and odor-free.

Additionally, your dentist can identify any underlying conditions, such as gum disease, cavities or dry mouth that are causing persistent bad breath even after brushing. You can also ask them how to keep your breath fresh all day and they’ll provide you with personalized recommendations based on your unique needs.

The Bottom Line

Practicing excellent oral hygiene, using a therapeutic mouthwash with active ingredients, watching what you eat and visiting the dentist for routine care will help you maintain fresh breath over the long term.

Schedule a Dental Exam and Cleaning in Naperville

Ready to take an important step towards a healthier smile and fresher breath, book a dental exam and cleaning at Naperville Dental Specialists today!

When it comes to oral health, we tend to focus on our teeth and gums. Yet, the tongue plays a number of roles, including helping us speak and eat. What you may not know is that it also reveals a lot about our oral and overall health. Its appearance and, sometimes, sensations (i.e., feeling sore) can give you important information. A healthy tongue is pink in color and covered in tiny bumps (papillae). Changes in how it looks or any pain can indicate a concern and you should schedule a visit with your Naperville dentist to have it checked out. To illustrate just how powerful simply looking at your tongue can be, we’re sharing some of the clues you can gain from its appearance. 

Key Highlights:

• Changes in your tongue’s appearance or tongue discomfort could indicate a health concern.
• Why is my tongue white? A white, coated tongue can be a sign of a number of different conditions, though it’s not usually anything serious. A black, hairy tongue is also not typically a cause for alarm.
• A strawberry tongue, as well as a lump on the tongue, could signal potentially serious health problems. 
• It’s always a good idea to bring up changes in the color of your tongue with your dentist. 

A White Coating or White Spots on Tongue 

Patients often ask, why is my tongue white? A white, coated tongue or white spots on the tongue can be alarming but it’s not usually a sign of a serious condition. Here are a few reasons you may have a white tongue:

• Not Brushing Your Tongue – A coated tongue could just be due to a buildup of bacteria and debris. If the white coating brushes away, that’s probably the case. As for how to get rid of a white tongue, in this instance, simply brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth to keep it clean. As a bonus, this will help fight bad breath too.
• Oral Thrush – A white, coated tongue or white patches can be a sign of oral thrush, which is a yeast infection. It’s caused by Candida yeast (fungus). While we all have Candida in our mouths, when it becomes overgrown, it causes an issue. It’s most common in infants, the elderly, especially those who wear dentures, and people with weakened immune systems. It can also be the result of taking oral or inhaled steroids or antibiotics. Your dentist or doctor may recommend an antifungal treatment, which can come in mouthwash form. 
• Oral lichen planus – This type of white tongue looks kind of like you have lace on your tongue and features white lines. Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory condition. It’s not contagious and usually goes away on its own.
• Leukoplakia – Leukoplakia causes white spots on the tongue and inside of the mouth. It crops up when the cells in the mouth grow excessively and it can happen if the tongue gets irritated, such as from drinking alcohol or smoking. It’s not dangerous in and of itself but sometimes it can be a precursor to mouth cancer, so you should schedule an evaluation with your Naperville dentist.

A Hairy, Black Tongue

A hairy, black tongue sounds like something out of a horror movie but it’s actually not usually anything serious. Those tiny bumps on the tongue, or papillae, grow throughout your life. Sometimes, they can get really long, and look almost hair-like. Additionally, when they’re overgown, they tend to accumulate bacteria. The bacteria may look black or dark. The entire tongue can be black or it can start as black spots on the tongue.  In most cases, a black, hairy tongue is from poor oral hygiene, but it can also occur due to diabetes, chemotherapy or taking antibiotics. 

A Red Tongue or Strawberry Tongue

If your tongue is red or you have a strawberry tongue where it’s swollen, red and bumpy, it could indicate a number of conditions:

• Folic Acid or B-12 Deficiency – If you have a folic acid or vitamin B-12 deficiency, it could result in a red tongue. Bloodwork can confirm if you’re lacking either vitamin. If you’re deficient, changing your diet and/or taking supplements could help you get the necessary vitamins and get rid of a red tongue. 
• Kawasaki Disease – A sign of Kawasaki disease is a strawberry tongue (red and bumpy). The disease, which usually occurs in children under five, causes inflammation in the arteries. A strawberry tongue could be accompanied by high fever, a rash, peeling skin, and red eyes. It’s a serious condition, so if your child has these symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible. 
• Scarlet Fever – Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that leads to a strawberry tongue. Sometimes, strep throat can turn into scarlet fever. In addition to a bumpy, red tongue, other symptoms include a red rash over most of the body, high fever, sore throat, headache, flushed skin, and red lines in the folds of the skin. It’s most common in children and teenagers. Call your doctor or pediatrician if you or your child has these symptoms because antibiotics will likely be needed to treat it. 
• Geographic Tongue – Geographic tongue gets its name because it’s characterized by a map-like pattern. You may have smooth, red, irregularly shaped spots on the surface of the tongue that can have a white border around them. You might also have pain or a burning, especially when eating spicy or acidic foods. The lesions will usually heal and then move to another area of the tongue. Fortunately, the geographic tongue is not serious and it will go away on its own. 
• Food or Drug Allergies – Occasionally, a red tongue or strawberry tongue can be from taking a medication or eating a food you’re allergic to. A doctor may give you antihistamines to alleviate the swelling and redness. 

A Sore Tongue or Bumps on Tongue 

There are a variety of things that can lead to a sore tongue or bumps on the tongue, such as:

• Trauma – If you ever wake up wondering, why does my tongue hurt? You could be grinding or clenching your teeth in your sleep, which can irritate the tongue and cause pain. At Naperville Dental Specialists, we can create a custom nightguard to help with teeth grinding and alleviate tongue pain. A sore tongue can also be the result of accidentally biting it or eating something really hot. In severe cases, eating something scalding could lead to blisters on the tongue. Your tongue will stop hurting once the damage heals. 
• Canker Sores – A canker sore on the tongue, or anywhere in the mouth, is painful. This type of tongue ulcer isn’t contagious and it’s thought that stress can bring them on. Canker sores on the tongue tend to heal on their own and should go away in a week or two. 
• Smoking – Smoking can irritate your tongue. It can also lead to a yellowish tongue. If it bothers you, use it as motivation to quit! 
• Oral Cancer – If you have a lump or sore on your tongue that doesn’t improve within two weeks, even if it doesn’t hurt at all, it could be a sign of oral cancer. You should have it evaluated by your dentist. The early it’s treated, the better. 

These are just some of the many clues your tongue can reveal about your oral and overall health. If you notice any concerning changes in your tongue, schedule a visit at Naperville Dental Specialists. Our expert Naperville dentists can determine what’s causing any issues and, if necessary, create a personalized treatment plan to restore your oral health.