What is With this Bad Breath?

For those of you who have felt the embarrassment of halitosis (bad breath), you know that it is something that it can alter the way you speak, affect your self-confidence and even affect your relationships. While every individual is different, there are several major causes of halitosis that affect most people. Gums and mints may temporally mask the issue, however if these underlying conditions still remain your breath will soon return to it’s original state.

• Remove bacteria off of your tongue: If you stick out your tongue and look in the mirror you may find a whitish film that contains plaque and bacteria that is stuck in the grooves of your tongue. Scraping your tongue with a professional tongue scraper twice a day can drastically decrease the levels of these odor-causing bacteria.
• Watch what you eat: Foods such as onions and garlic can also contribute to bad breath. Even after brushing these foods get into your digestive track and can release odors all over your body. A natural remedy is integrating parsley into your meal, every time you consume one of these items.
• Improve Oral hygiene:  Bacteria can also grow all over your teeth and other oral tissues. Food stuck in between your teeth can remain throughout the day and rot overnight if not flossed out. Make sure to brush at least twice a day for two minutes and floss at night. An oral rinse may also help decrease the bacterial load in your mouth. Those containing Chlorine Dioxide can help eliminating bad breath by attacking the sulfur compounds that exacerbate bad breath.
• Drink plenty of water: A medical condition known as “xerostomia” or dry mouth can cause plaque and food particles to further stick to your oral surfaces. The saliva is a natural cleanser of the mouth. Decreased saliva can alter your ability to fight cavities and may contribute to your bad breath.
• Avoid Crash Dieting: There are chemicals in our bodies called “ketones” which are made by the breakdown of fat that release an odor with each breath. Crash dieting increases the amount of ketones your body produces.
• Treat Medical conditions: Diabetes, Ketosis, and acid reflux are common causes of bad breath. Please be sure to visit your physician if you have any of these conditions and persistent malodor. Some medications such as antidepressants, asthma medications, blood pressure treatments, diuretics and antihistamines may cause dry mouth, decreasing natural cleansability.
• Stop Smoking: Stoping the smoking habit is the only cure. Smoking can also cause gum disease which can further lead to bad breath.
• Treat Tooth Decay: Untreated decay not only cause an order from the rotting or dying tooth, but also these holes can be food traps as well. Once food gets stuck in a cavity normal brushing may not remove the debris. Visit our office today to find out if your cavities are contributing to your bad breath.

April Toyer, DDS, FAAPD

The team at Lifetime Dental Care brings a full range of services to patients in and around the Woodbridge, VA area. These four doctors bring a range of experience, diverse backgrounds, and professional knowledge together to provide families with a safe and friendly home for their oral health needs.