Some risk factors for developing bad breath are controllable, such as smoking and choosing to eat certain foods. Others, such as developing certain diseases, may be outside of your immediate control. Typical reasons for this common oral health condition include:
Allergies: Several medications used to treat allergies can cause dry mouth, a problem commonly associated with bad breath. Post-nasal drip and sinus congestion caused by allergies can also contribute to the problem.
Braces or dentures: Dental restorations can make it more challenging to keep your teeth clean, leading to problems with bacteria growth and bad breath. Loose-fitting dentures cause bad breath when you develop sores or an infection.
Dry mouth: Xerostomia (the medical term for chronic dry mouth) can lead to problems with halitosis. The reason for this is that saliva helps moisten your mouth and keep it clean. When your body doesn’t produce enough saliva, bad breath is the typical result. Common reasons for dry mouth include breathing through the mouth, connective tissue disorders, Sjogren’s syndrome, and faulty salivary glands.
Food: This is the leading reason why people develop bad breath. Foods such as garlic, onions, acidic beverages, some types of cheese and exotic spices can leave particles or residue in your mouth that leave a lingering odor. It’s also common to get food particles stuck in the teeth, which can further compound the problem. That’s because trapped food encourages the growth of plaque and bacteria that can lead to halitosis.
Infections of the mouth: Infections such as an abscessed or impacted tooth, gum disease or tooth decay can cause bad breath.
Health conditions: Several health conditions include bad breath as a symptom. The most common ones include acid reflux disease, bronchitis, the common cold, diabetes, influenza, kidney disease, lactose intolerance, liver disease, pneumonia, post-nasal drip, sinus infection, sore throat, tonsil stones and thrush.
Do you Suffer from Bad Breath?
Poor oral hygiene:It’s important to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day for good oral health and fresh breath. When you do this less often, it causes the food particles present in your mouth to begin rotting. This eventually leads to bacteria that can cause bad breath along with a host of other dental health issues such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Smoking: Chewing tobacco and smoking cigarettes are both habits that leave chemicals in the mouth. In addition to causing an increased risk of oral cancer or lung cancer, these habits can cause persistent bad breath. The more you smoke or chew, the more difficult it is to eliminate the odor no matter how much you brush your teeth or use mouthwash.
Schedule Regular Preventive Care Exams
Besides a consistent oral healthcare routine at home, the best thing you can do for your mouth and teeth is to attend your bi-annual cleaning appointment at Comeaux Dental Group. Please contact us to schedule an appointment or for more tips on keeping your breath fresh.