Most of us have suffered from bad-smelling breath at some point in our lives, especially if we just enjoyed a flavorful meal. In most cases, you can get rid of bad breath by completing your oral hygiene routine. It scrubs away lingering food particles that decay and create an odor that presents on your breath.
But if bad breath persists despite completing this teeth-brushing and flossing regimen, you might have a chronic condition known as halitosis. You should discuss this symptom with your dentist to eradicate it. It may point to a larger underlying oral health problem that will require intervention from your dentist to resolve.
You can better prevent halitosis and get rid of it when you know more about what causes this issue. Read on to discover four of the most common reasons you might develop chronic bad breath.
Strong Foods and Beverages
As mentioned, lingering bits of food in your mouth can give you bad breath. This happens because saliva within the mouth will encourage the food to begin to decay, which will emit a foul odor. But sometimes certain foods and beverages will affect your breath even after removing these particles with your oral hygiene regimen.
For example, onions and garlic both contain fragrant oils that will absorb into your bloodstream and travel to your lungs. This can impact the scent of your breath for longer than a day and remain unaffected by oral hygiene efforts. So pay attention to your diet and how it impacts your breath.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Your oral hygiene routine will remove lingering food particles from your teeth, but it will also scrub away plaque. This gritty film over your teeth forms from natural bacteria in your mouth. Not only does plaque harm your dental structure, but the excess bacteria will give off a bad odor that will affect your breath if you do not remove it promptly.
Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice per day and floss every day to get rid of plaque in a timely fashion. You should also attend routine teeth cleanings at your dentist’s office to maximize preventative dental care and keep your smile and breath as fresh as possible.
Dry Mouth
Have you noticed that your mouth feels sticky, tacky, and dry? Dry mouth can be an uncomfortable sensation that will also prove detrimental to your oral health. A dry oral environment allows bacteria to spread with greater ease through the mouth.
Then you could face a greater risk of oral infections. Plus, the excess bacterial build-up will make your breath smell bad. Drink plenty of water to stave off dehydration that may cause dry mouth. If dry mouth becomes chronic, visit your dentist to treat the problem.
Advanced Gum Disease
Gum disease refers to a common type of infection affecting the gum tissue. Its early stage presents with inflammation and irritation in the gums. But as the infection spreads, bacteria will eat away at the gum tissue and start to deteriorate the teeth and jawbone too.
Plus, when bacteria build up in the gum pockets, it begins to smell bad which will become evident in your breath. Bad-smelling breath could point to this infection, which requires a dentist to treat. Do not ignore bad breath because it may mean you have a serious underlying dental problem like gum disease.