Oral hygiene and the fresh breath associated with it are part of healthy daily habits. Over time, poor dental care will cause mouth odor. Most people aren’t aware of the fact that over 50% of the bacteria found in the human mouth contributes to bad breath. The foods we eat contribute to bad breath, too. However, bad breath may be a symptom of a health condition or a side effect of a medication. We at Medicircle are conducting an exclusive series on this Fresh Breath Day to create awareness regarding oral hygiene and oral care amongst the general public.

Dr. Runit Nangalia graduated from Dr. R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata, which is famed to be the first dental school in South East Asia. He subsequently trained in Oral Surgery, Paediatric Dentistry, and Orthodontics from the same institution. He is into the private dental practice and Medical Officer (Dentistry) at West Bengal Health Services. He believes in treating not just the mouth of a patient, but the patient as a whole, and does so by counseling them for general medical conditions and psychological well-being as well.

Tips on oral care

Dr. Runit mentions, “For oral care, first we need to keep our mouth clean and maintain oral hygiene with the help of brushing and flossing. Doing brush twice a day is very important, one in the morning and once at night before going to sleep. Brushing is important to clean the surfaces of teeth while flossing is necessary to clean the gaps between the teeth. Floss is done by a thread which you can insert in between your teeth, as cavities first start between the teeth. In India flossing is not much practiced as brushing. You should always rinse your mouth after eating otherwise traces of food left in the mouth can cause oral diseases.” 

Flossing – Myths and misconceptions

Dr. Runit expresses, “You should know the right technique of flossing. Applying excess pressure while flossing may result in gingival recession. Getting proper guidance from a dentist and practicing it the right way can be very much beneficial. Flossing doesn’t cause teeth gaps. Generally gum diseases are because of traces of food present in the mouth.”

Causes of bad breath

Dr. Runit speaks, “Causes of bad breath can be divided into two categories – oral and extraoral causes. 

Any type of cavities, not maintaining oral hygiene, gum or wisdom tooth infection causes bad breath. Irregular cleaning of the tongue leads to fungal infection with bad breath. Some sulfur-containing compound foods such as onion, garlic, some sorts of meat, carbonated drinks cause bad breath. When our body gets dehydrated, this also causes bad breath. Some medicines dry out the mouth like anticholinergic and antidepressants causing bad breath. Medical conditions like tonsils, sinus, chest and lung infection, acid reflux, constipation, indigestion may also lead to bad breath.

How to maintain fresh breath

Dr. Runit advises, “To keep our breath fresh, we need to take care of our oral and general health. 

Many times, people don’t know the right technique of brushing. For this, they should visit the dentist once every 6 months for a routine check-up. They can get proper guidance from a dentist on how to brush properly.  You can get your teeth fully cleaned once every 6 months.  Take a healthy diet, that includes fresh fruits and vegetables. Watch what you eat. Keep yourself hydrated.  You don’t require any medicines to have fresh breath. Just maintain oral hygiene and live a healthy lifestyle. Drink enough water at regular intervals.  You can chew ginger to keep your breath fresh. You can use essential oil-based mouthwashes.

Dr. Runit adds, “You should definitely visit a dentist every 6 months. Do not wait for problems, do not delay your treatments. This will further improve your quality of life.

(Edited by Renu Gupta)