Does Your Bad Breath Mean Something?
Bad breath is a problem that many people are concerned about. Bad breath has more ramifications than just making others uncomfortable. It might be a sign of improper oral hygiene practice or even bigger issues; such as health and wellness problems. Bad breath can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from as simple as eating odorous foods to causes that are not immediately obvious. Let’s look at some causes of foul breath and possible remedies!
Cause of bad breath: food particles
Food trapped between your teeth encourages bacterial growth and stinky odors to linger. Garlic and onions, for example, have a strong odor that contributes to persistent bad breath.
Remedy:
Make sure to brush and floss twice a day to keep your mouth clean. Brushing after eating also helps remove those food particles that stick between your teeth. Brushing your tongue or using a tongue scraper helps remove additional bacteria, as does using antibacterial mouth rinse and toothpaste.
Cause of bad breath: dry mouth
A lack of saliva is one of the biggest causes of bad breath. If you have a dry mouth, the food particles will stick around in your mouth longer than they should. Certain medications can also have a drying effect on the mouth.
Remedy:
The most effective strategy to cure a dry mouth is to drink water to help keep your mouth wet. To stimulate saliva production, you can chew sugar-free gum. A mouth wash with antibacterial properties and toothpaste are excellent ways to cleanse your teeth of cavity-causing germs.
If you’re on a medicine with the side effect of dry mouth, see whether there is an alternative version without that side effect. If not, try to keep your mouth wet by drinking water often.
Cause of bad breath: oral infections
If you brush and floss your teeth every day yet notice that your breath does not stay fresh for long, you may have an underlying medical problem.
Remedy:
Visit your dentist to learn whether you have periodontitis and whether there are any additional causes of halitosis. You could have an unknown or hidden medical condition such as diabetes, infections, reflux, and other illnesses.
Cause of bad breath: ill-fitting dentures
Nooks and crannies are favorite spots for food particles to hang out. There are many spaces for food to linger after eating if dentures aren’t fitted correctly.
Remedy:
Getting your dentures adjusted helps keep food particles out of those hard-to-reach areas. If your dentures aren’t fitting properly, rinse your mouth as soon as possible after eating. This can help prevent germs from spreading until you have a chance to see your dentist about adjusting your dentures.
Chewing Tobacco Causes Bad Breath
In general, chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes produce foul breath in addition to a number of other oral and general health concerns. For a healthy and fresh mouth, it’s best to avoid these products, which can also lead to health problems including high blood pressure and oral cancer.
Keeping you healthy is our top priority, and our caring dentists can assist you in improving your oral health. Schedule an appointment today to find out what’s causing your unpleasant breath!
