Download Beat Bad Breath! - Cass County Dental Clinic

Cass County Dental Clinic
802 E. Walnut in Belton (816) 322-7600
103 Oriole St. in Harrisonville (816) 380-4000
[email protected]
www.casscountydentalclinic.org
/casscountydentalclinic
Beat Bad Breath!
Do you know someone who has bad breath? Almost everyone gets bad breath every once in
awhile. Bad breath is caused by germs (bacteria) that live in the mouth, especially on the
back of the tongue and under the gumline. These bacteria break down proteins in foods and
saliva into amino acids. Some amino acids break down further into Volatile Sulfur Compounds
(VSCs), which STINK!
The most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. When we do not remove bacteria from the mouth by brushing and flossing, we increase the amount of VSCs created.
Since the germs that cause bad breath live on the back of the tongue, it is very important to
brush or scrape the tongue each time we brush!
Beat Bad Breath by…
1. Brushing your teeth twice daily for 2 min
each time
2. Brushing or scraping your tongue each time
you brush
3. Using toothpicks to remove food from between teeth after meals/snacks
4. Flossing once daily
5. Seeing the dentist twice a year
Halitosis. https://en.wikipedia.org Accessed December 14, 2015.
Cass County Dental Clinic is a program of Cass Community Health Foundation, a
nonprofit organization committed to empowering the community through improved
health.