Bad breath can be remedied with consistent, proper dental hygiene. If simple self-care techniques don't resolve the issue, here at TD Dental Group in Bonita Spring, FL, we can see you for a routine check-up to ensure that a more serious condition isn't the cause of your bad breath. Most bad breath starts in your mouth and can be caused by:
- Certain foods
- Tobacco products
- Poor dental hygiene
- Dry mouth
- health conditions
Unsurprisingly, stores fill their shelves with products designed to prevent bad breath. These include mints, mouthwash, and other products. Many of these products are only short-term solutions.
Food
The dissolution of food particles near your teeth can promote bacteria and cause a foul odor. Other foods, such as onions, garlic, and spices, can also cause bad breath. Additionally, beverages like alcohol and coffee can cause your mouth to become dry. After these foods get digested, they enter your bloodstream, are transported to your lungs, and affect your breath.
Tobacco Products
Smoking causes an unpleasant odor in the mouth. People who smoke or use oral tobacco are also more likely to have gum disease. Smoking can cause your mouth to become dry, leading to the smell of an ashtray in your mouth.
Poor Dental Hygiene
If you don't floss and brush your teeth regularly, food particles will remain in your mouth, causing bad breath. A thin, colorless film of bacteria (plaque) forms on your teeth. If not removed, plaque can irritate your gums and eventually lead to plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums (periodontitis). Your tongue also can harbor bacteria that produce odors. Dentures that are not cleaned regularly or properly fitted can harbor bacteria that produce odor.
Dry Mouth
Saliva helps to remove bacteria that cause unpleasant odors. A condition called dry mouth or xerostomia (zeer-o-STOE-me-uh) can cause bad breath because the production of saliva is decreased. A dry mouth is a natural occurrence during sleep, this causes "morning breath," and it is exacerbated if you sleep with your mouth open. Chronic dry mouth is typically caused by a deficiency in your salivary glands and diseases like diabetes.
Dental Work
When a cavity or tooth decay occurs, plaque (food particles and bacteria) accumulates in the cavity and causes bad breath. Bleeding or dry sockets after dental procedures (like the removal of wisdom teeth) can cause bad breath until the wound heals. Dental infections can also lead to bad breath, this is why it's important to maintain good oral hygiene to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Infections in your Mouth
Bad breath is caused by surgical incisions following oral surgery, such as tooth removal, or as a result of tooth decay, gum disease, or mouth sores. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of tartar on the teeth. When you fail to floss or brush properly, bacteria in your mouth produce toxins that cause damage. This can lead to irritation to the gums, cause pockets to form between your teeth and gums that hold food, and result in bad breath.
Other Mouth, Nose, and Throat Conditions
Bad breath is occasionally caused by tiny stones that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria that produce odor. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses, or throat that leads to postnasal drip can also cause bad breath.
Other Causes
Diseases and conditions that produce chemicals have a distinct odor in the breath as a result of the chemicals they produce. Long-term reflux of stomach acids (GERD) can lead to bad breath. Bad breath in children can result from a foreign object, such as a piece of food, that is stuck in their nostrils.
Bad breath is typically caused by the mouth and is caused by a variety of causes, including your diet, lifestyle, and health conditions. Make lifestyle alterations, such as flossing your teeth and tongue after eating, using dental floss, and drinking plenty of water. If at-home care doesn't solve the problem, contact TD dental Group, at (239) 317-8333, and schedule an appointment with us for a proper evaluation.
