Over the years of my practice, I have heard many patients asking how to get rid of bad breath. The key to tackling bad breath is to understand the root cause for the problem. Bad breath can be caused by a variety of reasons including poor oral hygiene, inadequate brushing and flossing, cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, smoking, consuming odor causing food and some systemic conditions.
Poor oral hygiene is one of most common causes of bad breath. Without regular brushing and flossing, the bacteria in your mouth increases which break down food, producing the smelly volatile sulfur compounds. After you have your meal or snacks, food particles that get lodged between your teeth can contribute to this and cause bad breath. If you don’t brush and floss after your meals, bacteria can work on these food remains and causes bad mouth odor. So brushing and flossing at least twice a day is recommended.
Irregularities on your tongue makes it easier for debris to collect and bacteria to thrive releasing sulfur compounds. Cleaning your tongue should be a part of your routine oral hygiene measure. You can use a tongue scraper or use your tooth brush itself to clean your tongue
Untreated cavities, gingivitis, deep pockets caused by gum disease, broken fillings, partially erupted wisdom teeth lodging food debris etc. are additional factors that can contribute to bad breath
Saliva aids in washing the bacteria away and has many antibacterial qualities too. It is important to maintain good salivary flow to flush the bacteria away and for a healthy mouth. Various reasons can cause dry mouth including certain medication. You can always ask your physician if there is a alternate medication to eliminate such side effects. Other options could be to sip water frequently or chew sugar free gum to stimulate salivation. There are prescriptions your dentist can provide to improve salivary flow. Keeping yourself well hydrated would also help to reduce the mouth odor.
Smoking is another major factor that causes bad mouth odor. Along with causing major health problems and periodontal diseases, smoking can also cause bad breath.
Dentists can help you identify the root cause of bad breath and offer recommendations and treatment to get rid of the bad breath for good. Make your appointment with Dr. Xavier at Texan Smile today to discuss more.