Bad Breath
What causes bad breath?
Do you worry about your bad breath? This can be embarrassing and can cause a lot of anxiety. I know it’s just as important to know what are the causes as it is to know how to treat it. Bad breath is mainly caused by a buildup of bacteria in the mouth that can cause a bad smell. Poor oral hygiene, untreated gingivitis, untreated or advanced periodontal disease, cavities, and smoking can cause Smelly breath. Other causes can be your diet which may include garlic and onions that can cause temporary Halitosis until they are absorbed in the blood and expelled by your breath. Dry mouth due to side effects from being on multiple medications, from being a mouthbreather, something that happens naturally as we get older as our saliva production and saliva flow decreases. Sometimes, smelly breath can be a sign of a more serious medical problem such as diabetes, kidney disease, or liver disease so it’s really important not to ignore Smelly breath and to seek treatment.
How to treat bad breath and prevention
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Brush thoroughly 2 times a day. Definitely invest in an electric brush as you will have a superior cleaning with an electric brush than with a manual brush.
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Floss twice a day, with proper flossing technique, not the floss picks, you need to take the floss and wrap it around the tooth to remove as much plaque as possible, the floss picks can’t remove enough plaque.
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Mouthwash – recommend Listerine, the good old-fashioned Listerine without all of the other fancy ingredients, and rinse gently for 30 seconds.
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Brush, floss, mouthwash – this is called whole mouth cleaning. The more thorough your plaque removal, the less food and debris available for those nasty bacteria to feast on that cause bad breath. Most people will notice a tremendous improvement by practicing the whole mouth cleaning twice a day.
Maintain regular dental hygiene appointments. In gingivitis, periodontitis the suffix ‘itis’ means inflammation which means disease. Your mouth needs to be in a disease-free state to smell fresh and clean. With regular check-ups and cleanings, we will help you keep your gums and teeth healthy which will go a very long way towards having fresh breath. Remember to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
