Bad Breath – What Should I Do?
One of the top questions my patients ask is “I have bad breath; how do I get rid of it?!” Well, to answer that we must figure out what is causing the issue in the first place.
Here are some common causes for ‘bad breath’:
Food
- When your body breaks down food, it starts in the mouth. Certain foods such as onion, garlic, coffee & certain spices can cause bad breath when particles are left behind after eating. This can leave an odor behind in the mouth.
Poor Dental Hygiene
- If you don’t brush & floss daily, food, plaque & bacteria can be left behind around your mouth causing bad breath. All this gunk that is left behind can then cause gum inflammation which can then lead to bigger issues such as gingivitis or even periodontitis.
Tobacco Use
-Other than leading to gum disease & cancer, tobacco use can also leave a foul odor in the mouth that lingers after use.
Dry Mouth
-When saliva production is decreased, the amount of bacterial particles that it helps remove from the mouth is also decreased which can contribute to bad breath. This is the most common culprit for ‘morning breath’ which occurs naturally. Dry mouth can also be caused by medications, salivary issues or some diseases.
Medications
- Some medications can also cause dry mouth which can then lead to bad breath. Other medications may also release chemicals in the body which can then be reflected on your breath.
Infection of The Mouth
- Bad breath can be as a result of an infected tooth, tooth decay or even gum disease. This odor can also be common after a major surgical procedure such as a tooth extraction.
Other Issues
-Sometimes bad breath can also stem from other issues such as tonsil stones, chronic respiratory inflammation, infections of the nose, sinus or throat or postnasal drip. Diseases and conditions such as some metabolic disorders, acid reflux, GERD or other gastroesophageal issues can be causes as well.
So how do we fix these issues & get rid of the bad breath?!
CREATE GOOD ORAL HYGIENE HABITS
-Brushing and flossing your teeth at least 2x daily can help reduce the bad breath causing bacteria in your mouth. Using an alcohol free mouth rinse daily can also help freshen up breath throughout the day.
BRUSH YOUR TONGUE
-Stick out your tongue – do you notice a light white / brown / green color on it? If yes then you might have a coating on your tongue of a combination of food, plaque and bacteria. The tongue can also trap these bad odor producing bacteria. When cleaning your teeth it is important to also remove the biofilm from your tongue as well by brushing it away with either your toothbrush or a tongue scraper.
CLEAN DENTURES / PARTIALS / MOUTHGUARDS / NIGHTGUARDS
- It is super important to keep everything and anything going in and out of your mouth clean. Dentures & other removable devices such as partials, nightguards, and mouthguards need to be cleaned daily. Putting them back into your mouth covered in plaque or bacteria can lead to poor breath.
MAINTAIN HYGIENE CHECKUPS
- Making sure to check in with your dentist and hygienist at least twice a year can help ensure a healthy mouth. Seeing your hygienist for cleanings will aid in reducing the amount of bad breath causing plaque, tartar and bacteria in your mouth. They can also give you personalized tips on how you can reduce the occurrence of bad breath in your own mouth!
Still have questions about bad breath?! Be sure to ask Nicole or Dr. DalBon next time you are in the office!