Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a common and often embarrassing issue that can affect anyone. But the good news is that it is usually easy to fix.
Bad breath can happen for a number of reasons:
- Poor oral hygiene: Food particles left on and between your teeth can cause odors. Plaque and bacteria buildup on the teeth and tongue are common causes too.
- Dry mouth: Saliva helps clean your mouth. When you don’t have enough of it (due to dehydration, certain medications, or mouth breathing), odor-causing bacteria thrive.
- Gum disease: Persistent bad breath is often a sign of mouth infections, like periodontal gum disease, a condition that affects nearly half of U.S. adults.
- Diet: Foods like garlic, onions, and coffee can temporarily affect breath.
- Smoking or tobacco use: These not only leave an unpleasant odor but also increase the risk of gum disease and dry mouth.
- Medical conditions: Sinus infections, acid reflux, and even diabetes can contribute to bad breath.
Fortunately, there are several ways to combat bad breath:
- Brush and floss daily. Make sure you clean all surfaces of your teeth and along the gumline. Flossing will remove trapped food particles between the teeth that brushing alone can miss.
- Clean your tongue. Your tongue is commonly home to bacteria that cause bad breath. Brushing or using a tongue scraper daily can help keep it clean.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking water throughout the day encourages saliva production and rinses away food debris.
- Avoid tobacco. Quitting smoking or other tobacco use can improve both your breath and your overall oral health.
- Chew sugar-free gum. This stimulates saliva flow and helps wash away odor-causing food particles and bacteria.
- Visit your dentist regularly. Professional teeth cleaning and checkups help prevent plaque buildup and detect issues early that may affect your breath.
- Consider Guided Biofilm Therapy. GBT is an advanced type of teeth cleaning that provides optimum results on a microbial level. This can eliminate several potential causes of bad breath.
If your bad breath persists, give us a call. Chronic bad breath may be a sign of a deeper issue like gum disease, cavities, or other medical conditions.
We promise to take great care of you.
KN Dentistry – Orange, CA – (714) 633-2562
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