01 May

Causes Of Bad Breath

Halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath, can be tremendously frustrating, and it can also be a source of insecurity when around other people. Fortunately, some of the main reasons for bad breath can be cured by simply making a few changes in daily habits. Lifetime Family Dental in Gilbert, AZ is a dental office that has been helping patients with dental needs for years. And while we can’t promise to fix every cause of bad breath, making a dental appointment to discuss your needs with us could provide you with a possible solution.

Causes of Bad Breath

First the good news. Bad breath can be caused by diet. Garlic, onions, and coffee are three of the most notorious foods for halitosis. Bad breath caused by food won’t clear up until your body has processed the culinary culprit(s) that caused your breath to go south. But if food is the source, once your body is free and clear, your breath should also be free and clear.

Another common cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene. Not properly brushing your teeth, forgetting to brush your tongue, failing to floss daily—all are possible reasons you’re struggling with that halitosis.  Yes, brushing your tongue is important, using a soft-bristled brush. Bad bacteria can rest on the tongue as well as on teeth, and it just so happens that as that bad bacteria feeds on food particles that remain in the mouth, it produces a foul-smelling waste. That same bacteria is the plaque that eats away at your teeth and can eventually cause cavities and other dental issues, so brushing, flossing, and even a quality mouthwash that removes bacteria are some of the easier solutions to solving your bad breath crisis.

Now that we’ve highlighted the most usual suspects that cause bad breath, here are a few other possible causes:

• • Smoking. When it comes to having fresh breath, smoking is a definite no-no. It will cause bad breath that none of your friends want to smell, and there’s not much you can do about it, except quit the habit.
  • Gum disease. The offender here is the presence of that same bad bacteria we mentioned previously. Though periodontitis and gingivitis can be linked to halitosis, they’re often treatable, especially in the early stages.
  • Allergies. This one may surprise you. When you’ve got allergies, post-nasal drip is often involved, and that can create germs that affect your breath. Infections in the sinuses can also create halitosis.
  • Candida albicans. This yeast that forms in the mouth is often associated with tongue piercings, dentures, or use of retainers. Keeping tongue piercings clean, brushing dentures and retainers well, and using an antibacterial solution may help to prevent its formation.
  • Acid reflux. If you suffer from chronic acid reflux, you may struggle with bad breath problems caused by food residue that backs up into the mouth. Keeping your mouth clean will go a long way to cutting down on bad breath caused by reflux.

Here are a few additional possible causes:

• Morning breath
• Dry mouth
• Infections in the mouth or esophagus
• Diseases of liver, kidneys, diabetes, cancer

Check in With Our Dental Office . . .

If you’re not certain whether your bad breath is caused by a dental problem or by some other physical issue, it may be best to make an appointment with our dental office and let us perform a comprehensive check of your mouth, teeth, and gums for any signs of infection. As we said before, the more common causes of halitosis can be remedied by improving oral care at home. But for your peace of mind, give Lifetime Family Dental a call. We want to see you breathe easy and smile confidently!

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (5/3/2018) Andrea Castelletti

(Flickr)