Not only can bad breath make you self conscious, but it can also drive you crazy smelling it. However, there are things that you can do to combat bad breath once and for all. Here are the potential causes and remedies you can try to beat the issue once and for all.

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath, a condition known as halitosis, is not only irritating, but it can also be embarrassing and affect your self confidence. Certain foods, health conditions, medications, and poor oral hygiene can all be causes of bad breath. Here is a list of common bad breath causes:

• Food. Breaking down food particles in and around your teeth can increase the amount of bacteria found in the mouth. Once that happens, a bad smell can develop. Foods like onions, garlic, and other spices can cause bad breath more than others. Once you digest these foods, they then enter your bloodstream and are then carried to your lungs, which affects your breath. 
• Tobacco products. Smoking causes a number of dental health problems, and one of them is bad odor. Smokers are more likely to also experience gum disease, which is another common cause of bad breath. 
• Poor dental hygiene. Brushing and flossing daily is essential to removing food particles from your mouth. If you aren’t doing this daily, those food particles are left behind and can cause bad breath from the plaque that develops. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth, but it can be brushed away. When the plaque stays on the teeth, it can irritate your gums and lead to gum disease. Additionally, your tongue can also hold onto bacteria that can cause bad breath, so be sure you gently brush your tongue when you are brushing your teeth. 
• Dry mouth. Saliva helps keep the mouth clean and fights bad bacteria, however, some people can experience dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, because of decreased production of saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth typically occurs during sleep, which causes the ‘morning breath’ issue, however, chronic dry mouth can also be caused by issues with your salivary glands. 
• Medications. Certain medications can indirectly cause bad mouth odor and lead to dry mouth as well. Other medications can be broken down within the body and release chemicals, causing bad odor.
• Infections. Odor can also be produced in the mouth after dental procedures, like having a tooth removed, or as a result of gum disease and tooth decay. 
• Mouth, nose, throat conditions. Odors can sometimes come from small stones in the tonsils that are covered in bacteria and produce a smell. Further, infections or chronic inflammation of the nose, sinuses, or throat can contribute to postnasal drip, which causes a bad smell in the breath. 
• Other issues. Conditions like cancers and metabolic disorders and cause bad breath because they produce chemicals. Chronic stomach reflux can also be a cause of bad odor. In children, sometimes bad breath is a sign that there is a foreign body, like a piece of food, stuck in a nostril. 

Getting Rid of Bad Breath

If you have this issue, you’re not alone. 1 in 4 people have bad breath they suffer with each day. The first step in getting rid of bad odor is seeing Dr. Chris Bockrath and our team at Mountain Aire Dentistry to determine the cause of your issue. During this appointment, we will examine your mouth for signs of cavities and gum disease, which are common culprits. If your mouth is free of those issues, we will then begin to dive into your medical history. We will learn about any and all medications you are currently taking that could potentially be the cause of your mouth odor. 

At home, there are things that you can do to try and stop your bad breath. First and foremost, stick to a strict oral hygiene routine. You should be brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time. Further, you should be flossing once a day to remove any food or other particles that could be lodged between the teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach. Using a mouthwash can also help kill bad-breath causing bacteria in the mouth and freshen your breath for longer periods of time. 

Make an Appointment with Mountain Aire Dentistry 

Don’t lose self confidence with bad breath. Our team at Mountain Aire Dentistry is here to help you get to the source of your bad breath once and for all. Make an appointment with us today by calling our office at (303)-731-7755.