Halitosis, commonly known as chronic bad breath, is different from the bad breath that you experience when you wake up in the morning or eat something garlic-y. No matter what you do, whether it be brushing your teeth, chewing a mint, or using mouthwash, the bad smell remains. When this happens, it’s best to consult a dentist as it may indicate an underlying condition that could be serious.
What Causes Halitosis?
If quick bad breath fixes are only covering up the problem for a short time, something else may be happening in your body, including:
Cavities: Holes and pockets in your teeth are the perfect place for bad breath causing bacteria to hide, especially since they’re so hard to clean out.
Nose and Throat Infections: Postnasal drip can be a cause of halitosis. Bacteria love to feast upon the mucus that leaves your nasal passage and drains into your throat.
Dry Mouth: Saliva helps you process the food in your mouth, making it easier to swallow, but it also helps your oral health. Saliva produces disease-fighting substances that help prevent the formation of cavities. Halitosis can cause the saliva to disappear, leaving food particles and bacteria in its place.
Smoking: While the act of smoking already makes your breath smell less than desirable, smoking also drys out your mouth which was already previously stated to cause halitosis. Excessive smoking can also lead to gum disease, another culprit of halitosis.
Chronic Medical Conditions: Halitosis can be a warning sign of something much more sinister such as kidney disease, liver disease, reflux, and diabetes.
Treating Halitosis
If you suspect that you have halitosis, start by changing your dental routine. If you brush your teeth only at night, start by adding an additional brushing session to your day, each session lasting for about 2 minutes. Start flossing once a day as well.
If you’re a smoker, try to start cutting back on the number of tobacco products you consume in a day and drink plenty of water to prevent your mouth from drying out. Cutting back on caffeinated drinks and replacing them with water will also help.
If none of these things work, make an appointment with your dentist as you may have an underlying medical condition that is not known yet that your dentist will be able to figure out.
If you suspect you have halitosis, have questions about halitosis, or simply would like to have a consultation, give us a call at +1 805-499-3691.
