When your coworkers come up to speak with you, do you cover your mouth before speaking? You know that your breath isn’t the freshest, especially after your 2:30 pm cup of coffee. Little do you know, your bad breath may be a signal from your oral health.
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing chronic bad breath. Your dentist can help you to discover the root of your halitosis (bad breath), and help you treat it.
Reasons for Chronic Bad Breath
Dry Mouth
Did you know not staying hydrated can cause you to have bad breath? Since one of saliva’s purposes is to clean your mouth, a decrease in saliva means that your natural cleansing system is lacking, leaving your mouth susceptible to bacteria build-up.
Aside from dehydration, dry mouth can also be caused by certain medications, drinking alcohol or smoking, and even snoring.
Tobacco Use
Not limited to smoking, any use of tobacco can lead to bad breath. Chewing tobacco can leave particles on the mouth’s surface just like cigarettes.
Also, the scent of cigarette smoke can sit inside your lungs for several hours, making the breath stale. Tobacco also dries out your mouth creating a breeding ground for dental bacteria to develop gum disease.
Periodontal Disease
Commonly known as advanced gum disease, periodontal disease can have serious health consequences—even causing patients to lose their teeth. Having bad breath is an early sign of gum disease.
Bacteria in plaque builds up in the initial stages of gum disease, causing your breath to smell much less than fresh.
Poor Hygiene
Great dental hygiene means that you remove dental bacteria and debris from your mouth regularly. When you don’t practice excellent hygiene practices, food particles remain on the surfaces and crevices of your teeth, gums, and tongue. The bacteria that then carries an overpowering odor.
5 Tips for Freshening Your Breath
If you have bad breath, it should never be consistent. There are several things you can do to keep your mouth smelling fresh most of the time—just stay away from the onions!
- Brushing twice daily (don’t forget your tongue!) with fluoride toothpaste followed by flossing will help remove the odor-causing dental bacteria.
- Mouthwashes that contain cetylpyridinium chloride can also cut down the smell of bad breath.
- Drinking plenty of water will also promote saliva production and remove particles from the surfaces of your mouth.
- Chew sugar-free gum to keep your natural saliva flowing.
- If you use tobacco, quitting can be the best start to fresher breath.
One of the best ways to handle bad breath is by visiting a dentist regularly. Your dental team will not only perform routine oral exams and thorough professional teeth cleanings, they can provide complete dental care to help patients with issues that could be causing their bad breath.
Meet Your Dentist
Dr. Shelly Strohman takes pride in helping patients feel confident and healthy again. After completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the UMKC School of Dentistry and also obtaining her Level I Sedation Permit, she’s the best-qualified dentist to help you overcome dental problems comfortably. If you would like to meet Dr. Strohman, feel free to contact Strohman Dental rather than visiting the nearest “dentist near me” from Google. She would be happy to help you feel fresh again!