Bad breath, also known as halitosis is an extremely common condition and is usually easily treatable. Approximately 50-65% of people suffer from bad breath.
What Causes Bad Breath?
The main reason your breath may have an undesirable odor is because of bacteria. This is the same reason other parts of our body may smell at some point. A build up of bacteria in the mouth can be caused by many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of bad breath are listed below:
- Food: When food particles remain in your mouth, they collect bacteria and contribute to bad breath. Brushing and flossing are the easiest ways to prevent food buildup.
- Smoking and tobacco: In additional to staining your teeth and being detrimental to your health, cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco can cause bad breath.
- Gum disease: Continual bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can be a warning sign of gum disease. To determine if you have gum disease, visit your Gentle Dental dentist.
- Dry mouth: Saliva breaks down food naturally. Without enough saliva in your mouth, food particles build up and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth can be caused by many things including salivary gland issues, certain medications, or repeated breathing through your mouth.
- Medical conditions: Sinus and lung infections or kidney and liver disease can cause bad breath.To determine if you are suffering from one of these conditions visit your doctor.
How to Get Rid of Bad Breath
Mouthwash and gum may be short-term fixes to bad breath, the only way to keep bad breath away consistently is by brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day. You should also visit your dentist twice a year for thorough cleanings and examinations. The combination of excellent personal and professional care will reduce plaque build-up on your teeth that causes bad breath. Here are some other ways to combat the smell:
- Scrape your tongue: It is easy to buy a tongue scrapper at your local drugstore. The coating that sits on your tongue can be a breeding ground for built up bacteria. You can also just brush your tongue with a toothbrush as well.
- Avoid smelly foods: Onions and garlic are big offenders and brushing after you eat them doesn’t help.The substances that cause their bad smells make their way into your bloodstream and travels to your lungs, where you then breathe them out. The best way to stop the problem is not eating them, or at least avoid them before you go to work or see friends.
- Chew Gum after Dinner, Not Mints: The bacteria in your mouth thrive from sugar. They use it to make acid. Overtime, this wears down your teeth and causes bad breath. Chew sugarless gum instead. Gum stimulates saliva, which is the mouth’s natural defense mechanism against plaque acids, which cause tooth decay and bad breath.
Your Dental Health
When it comes to your health, both that of your mouth and your overall well-being, trust in the dentists at Gentle Dental Family Care. If bad breath continues to persist we recommend visiting your dentist for an exam. Your dentist will be able to identify any symptoms and send you to the right professionals for further care. Gentle Dental Family Care is the best dental practice in the Kew Gardens, Queens, NY 11415 area and we are open on Sundays as well as late evenings. For a teeth cleaning or exam, we recommend coming into the office to book an appointment with one of our talented dental professionals. All new patients may also take advantage of our $99 Cleaning Special that includes an exam and x-rays. To set up your appointment give us a call at (718) 849-9797. We also welcome walk-ins, to accommodate patients with a busy schedule. We hope to see you soon!
