It’s common to have bad breath after eating strong-smelling foods, but persistent bad breath is embarrassing and prevents us from enjoying life to the fullest. It can also be caused by a few different factors that indicate more serious issues. Here are some causes of bad breath and how you can get rid of it for better oral health today!
4 Main Causes of Bad Breath
- Diet
- Smoking
- Infections
- Poor Oral Hygiene
- Certain Diseases
Although onions and garlic are especially pungent foods and are known for causing bad breath, you may not realize that your favorite sugary and acidic foods and drinks like dried fruit, citrus, candy, soda, coffee, and alcohol can cause bad breath over time. This is because sugar and acid promote bacteria production, and bacteria release more acid that will break down the enamel of your teeth and cause tooth decay as they consume sugar on the surface of your teeth.
Smoking suppresses your immunity, making any potential infection even harder to combat. If you have plaque and bacteria growing in your mouth, you are more likely to develop tooth decay when you’re a smoker.
If you have an infection in your mouth, nose, or throat, bacteria in your mouth will feed on the mucus from postnasal drip and multiply, causing bad breath.
If you don’t properly brush and floss your teeth every day, you allow plaque and bacteria to thrive in hard-to-reach areas. Once these bacteria accumulate under and around your gumline, they will get harder to control, cause tooth decay and bad breath, and eventually lead to gum disease.
Diabetes, kidney disease, and stomach ailments can all cause bad breath.
Bad Breath Solutions
It is first necessary to determine the root cause of your bad breath in order to eradicate it for good. Come see us every six months so our expert dentists can come up with an individualized treatment plan to address your oral health issues. There are also some things you can do now to alleviate your bad breath:
- Chew sugar-free gum and mints with xylitol.
- Eat a balanced diet that has lots of fiber, protein, and necessary vitamins and nutrients to lessen the effects of acid and sugar on your teeth.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and wash away harmful bacteria.
- Do your best to quit or avoid smoking for both your oral and overall health.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each time.
- Brush your tongue back-to-front and side-to-side every day.
- Floss daily.
- Rinse with an anti-plaque/anti-gingivitis mouthwash.
Your Oral Health Is Our Top Priority!
If you have chronic bad breath, we’re here to help you figure out the cause and find a safe and effective solution that will help you smile with confidence again. Contact us to schedule an appointment at Del Ray Dental Center!
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