What Causes Bad Breath and Can It Be Treated?
Almost everyone has had an occasional brush with bad breath (halitosis), with some struggling daily to find a solution. The good news is that improving oral hygiene practices and making simple lifestyle changes usually alleviate this condition. If, however, bad breath persists, your trusted team at Afton Dental will work to restore your fresh, healthy, and confident smile.
What Are Common Causes of Bad Breath?
There are many causes of halitosis. However, the majority of cases result from poor dental hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss regularly, food particles left sitting in your mouth will promote the growth of bacteria between your gums, around your teeth, and on your tongue, resulting in bad breath.
Persistent bad breath often indicates problems such as cavities, gum (periodontal) disease, poorly fitting dental appliances, and infections or sores of the mouth. Certain medications and illnesses, such as kidney or liver problems, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, metabolic diseases, respiratory tract infections, and postnasal drip can also contribute to halitosis.
Dry mouth (xerostomia) can result in bad breath due to the decreased production of saliva, which naturally cleans the mouth. Moreover, some practices that affect the freshness of your breath include tobacco use, the consumption of foods such as garlic and onions, fasting, and low-carbohydrate diet programs.
How to Prevent and Treat of Bad Breath
The best way to prevent or treat bad breath is to maintain proper oral hygiene practices, which involves regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash. Don’t neglect to clean your tongue to prevent the buildup of bacteria, food debris, and dead cells, which can lead to bad breath.
Preventing and treating halitosis often requires some lifestyle changes. Consider cutting down on the consumption of foods that cause an unpleasant odor, and do yourself a favor and quit using tobacco-based products. Make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep your mouth moist. If a dry mouth is causing halitosis, chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard candy can help relieve your symptoms by stimulating saliva production, which helps wash bacteria and food debris away.
Help Is Here
Visit Afton Dental in Concord, NC, if your bad breath persists. We will help determine the cause of your condition and may refer you to your healthcare provider for further investigations. We encourage you to maintain your routine dental exams and cleanings every six months to help keep your mouth clean and fresh and to allow us to detect and treat any conditions as they develop. We are all about maintaining healthy smiles. Call us and schedule your appointment today!