The Most Common Causes of Bad Breath

Nobody wants to be known as “that guy with bad breath” so it’s important to know what causes it and what you can do about it. This post will do just that. As holistic dentists, Aesthetic Family Dentistry concerns itself with all aspects of your wellbeing and bad breath is just one area of our expertise.

Bad breath is known as halitosis and is more common than anyone would ever admit. There are several causes, which we are going to discuss today. So without further ado, here are the most common causes of bad breath.

Poor dental hygiene

Not brushing and flossing regularly will result in bad breath, the odor is produced by bacteria in the mouth. As they digest food particles, they emit a gas that smells. That’s the bad in bad breath.

Brushing twice daily, flossing regularly and visiting us for scheduled checkups is the best way to avoid this situation.

Diet

Your diet can significantly influence how your mouth smells. Strong odorous foods such as garlic, onions, spices, coffee and alcohol can all give you bad breath. To address this, you can either consume less of them, brush your teeth afterwards or chew gum.

Smoking

You probably don’t need us to tell you that smoking makes your breath smell. Not only does it have an odor of its own, it also irritates your gums and increases the chances of you suffering from gum disease, all of which can contribute to halitosis. The answer to this issue is easy: stop smoking.

Medication

Some medications such as those that contain nitrates, tranquilizers and some chemotherapy drugs can also make your breath smell. These are not related to the condition of your mouth, the only treatment is to ask your physician if there are alternatives.

Medical conditions

There are a number of medical conditions that have bad breath as a side effect. They include xerostomia or dry mouth, astro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), diabetes, bronchitis, sinusitis and some lung and throat infections. To address these, you’re going to need to talk to your physician or visit our dental office.

Halitophobia

There is also a psychosomatic condition called halitophobia. This is a condition where someone thinks they have bad breath but actually do not. Sufferers are convinced that they have it and act as though they do. There are treatments for this condition that we would be happy to recommend.

If you would like to know more about bad breath, or would like a checkup, contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today!