Halitosis, another word for bad breath, can be embarrassing and even cause anxiety in some people. Gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products made to fight bad breath are all over the store shelves. But many of these products are only short-term fixes because they don’t deal with the problem’s root cause.
Some foods, health problems, and habits can make your breath smell bad. Taking good care of your teeth may usually eliminate bad breath. If simple things you can do on your own don’t help, see your periodontist to make sure a more serious problem isn’t causing your bad breath.
What Are The Symptoms Of Bad Breath?
Bad breath smells vary based on where it comes from or what’s causing it. Some people worry too much about their breath, even though they have little or no bad breath. Some people are unaware that they have terrible breath. Because it’s hard to tell how your breath smells, ask a close friend or family member to help you figure out if you have bad breath.
When To Go to A Periodontist?
If you have bad breath, look at how you take care of your teeth. Try making changes to your lifestyle, like brushing your teeth and tongue after you eat, using dental floss, and drinking a lot of water.
If you still have bad breath after making these changes, you should see a dentist. If your dentist thinks your bad breath is the reason for something more serious, they may send you to a doctor to find out what’s wrong.
Causes Of Bad Breath
Most bad breath comes from the mouth, and many things could be causing it. Among them are:
Food
Bacteria can grow and make your breath smell bad when food breaks down in and around your teeth. Some foods, like onions, garlic, and spices, can also make your breath smell bad. When you eat these things, they get into your bloodstream, go to your lungs, and make breathing hard.
Tobacco Consumption
When you smoke, your mouth smells bad on its own. People who smoke or use chewing tobacco are more likely to have gum disease, which can cause bad breath.
Poor Dental Hygiene And Periodontal Diseases
If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food stays in your mouth and causes bad breath. Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. It is clear and sticky. If you don’t get rid of plaque, it can irritate your gums and cause pockets between your teeth and gums (periodontitis). Your tongue can also hold bacteria that make smells. Dentures that don’t fit right or aren’t cleaned often enough can hold bacteria and food particles that cause bad breath.
Dry Mouth And Lips
Saliva helps clean your mouth by removing the things that make it smell not good. A dry mouth, also called xerostomia, can cause less saliva, leading to bad breath. When you sleep, your mouth naturally gets dry, leading to “morning breath.” This problem gets worse if you sleep with your mouth open. Some diseases and problems with your salivary glands can cause you to have a dry mouth.
Medications
Some medicines can dry your mouth, leading to bad breath. Some of them are removed by the body into chemicals breathed out.
Mouth Injury
Bad breath occurs due to wounds from oral surgery, like removing a tooth, tooth decay, gum disease, or sores in the mouth.
Mouth, Nose, And Throat Problems
Small stones that form in the tonsils covered with bacteria that make smelly smells can sometimes cause bad breath. Bad breath is usually formed due to infections or long-term inflammation in the nose, sinuses, or throat, which can also cause post-nasal drip.
Special Reasons
Some diseases, like some types of cancer, and conditions, like metabolic disorders, can make your breath smell different because they make chemicals. Too often, stomach acid returning to the esophagus can cause bad breath. GERD is the name of this condition. When a piece of food or something else gets stuck in a child’s nose, it can cause bad breath.
Last Words
Good oral hygiene is the best way to get rid of bad breath, prevent cavities, and lower your risk of gum disease. Depending on the cause, there are different ways to treat bad breath further. If your dentist thinks a health problem causes bad breath, they will likely send you to your primary care provider.
If the problem is related to oral health, your dentist will help you handle it better. Some dental treatments are:
Rinses And Toothpaste
If you have bad breath because bacteria (plaque) has built up on your teeth, your dentist may suggest a mouth rinse that kills the bacteria. Your dentist may also suggest toothpaste with an antibacterial agent to kill the bacteria that cause plaque buildup.
Gum Diseases Need To Be Treated
If you have gum disease, you might be sent to a dentist specializing in gums (periodontist). Gums can pull away from your teeth when you have gum disease. This leaves deep pockets that bacteria can grow in and make smelly. Bacteria can sometimes only be gotten rid of by a professional cleaning service. Your dentist might also tell you to replace any bad tooth fillings, which can be a place for bacteria to grow. You can visit Floss Dental West Oaks for the best bad breath-related treatment in the West Oaks location.