Top Causes of Bad Breath

No one likes bad breath, especially anyone on the receiving end of it. While someone’s first reaction is to say “brush your teeth!”, this isn’t always the solution. In fact, there are a lot of different causes of bad breath, and bad breath is typically a symptom of something else. This could even include other health conditions, and no amount of teeth brushing or oral rinse will help. If you’ve been dealing with bad breath, there are some ways to figure out the cause and the treatment for it. One of the best ways is to contact your local dentist.

Simply trying to fight bad breath with mouthwash or mints doesn’t actually solve the problem. Using a mint, for example, is only a temporary fix. The mints will eventually wear off and the bad breath will return, thus beginning an endless cycle of needing mints or mouthwash. Treating the root cause of the bad breath is the best course for eliminating and preventing bad breath.

Poor Dental Hygiene and Bad Breath

When dealing with bad breath, the usual first culprit to look at is your dental care routine. People that do not regularly brush, floss, and use mouthwash, are prone to a constant state of bad breath. Certain foods like garlic can make the bad breath a lot worse, too. Brushing your teeth does more than just remove built up plaque from your teeth. It also helps to remove the bacteria that likes to make its home in your mouth and release the awful sulfur compounds that create the smell of bad breath. 

Foods and Other Substances That Contribute to Bad Breath

There are also various foods that can make bad breath a lot worse. Coffee is one of those substances that can cause bad breath. The main reason is actually due to its ability to dehydrate the mouth. When the mouth is dry, foul-smelling bacteria are able to thrive. Luckily, one of the best ways to prevent or lessen bad breath from coffee is to have a glass of water after having your coffee. The water will rinse the mouth and help to rehydrate it.

One of the obvious foods that causes bad breath is garlic, especially since the smell has a tendency to linger. Onions are also high in the sulfur compounds that lead to bad breath. Sugary foods are horribly notorious for bad breath because the bacteria in your mouth loves the sugar just as much as you do. The bacteria will feed on the sugar, which is also why sugary foods are a lead contributor to plaque buildup.

However, foods like apples can actually do the opposite for you as they’re decent at breaking down the “bad breath compounds”. Greens such as spinach can also counteract bad breath. 

Other Health Conditions Cause Bad Breath

Poor dental hygiene and certain foods aren’t the only thing that can cause bad breath. Health conditions and even illnesses that aren’t directly involved with the mouth can also cause bad breath. Some of these conditions include:

• Respiratory infections
• Bronchitis
• Diabetes
• Gum disease

If an infection or illness is the cause of your bad breath, then the best course of action is just going to be getting over the illness. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore brushing your teeth and using mouthwash. Even when you are sick, keeping up with your dental care routine is extremely important.

Professional Dental Cleaning and Treatment for Bad Breath

If you’re dealing with bad breath and unable to get any real improvement, it’s probably time to contact your dentist. By going to your local dentist, you’ll get a dental examination that gives a more thorough look and understanding of why you have bad breath. By understanding why you have such bad breath, the treatment of that bad breath becomes clear. Contact Prosper & Smile Dental Care today to get rid of your bad breath!