Many people feel self-conscious about their breath, and there are lots of little signs that can indicate bad breath (halitosis), for example, noticing that people’s take a step back when you begin to talk, or they’ll turn their cheek when you kiss goodbye. It can be tricky to tell if you have halitosis, but you could try licking the inside of your wrist and smelling it. If it smells nasty, there’s a good chance your breath smells too. Otherwise, ask a trusted friend or relative to tell you the truth. Once you know, you can sort out this problem.
Why Do People Get Bad Breath?
Strong foods like onions and garlic can cause temporary halitosis, and although unpleasant and embarrassing, there’s nothing to worry about. You simply must wait for the foods to be eliminated from your body. Persistent halitosis is an entirely different matter and is usually caused by gases released by the bacteria coating your teeth, tongue and gums. Food trapped in between your teeth can rot and will begin to smell bad. Untreated dental diseases like tooth decay and gum disease in Courtice can frequently cause bad breath, and another warning sign is noticing you have a persistently nasty taste. If your oral hygiene is poor, this could be the root cause of your bad breath, but halitosis could be due to a medical condition.
Medical Problems That Can Cause Halitosis
Sometimes medical problems can cause bad breath and especially dry mouth or xerostomia. This is a condition where your mouth produces less saliva than is needed to keep the mouth clean, fresh and comfortable. A lack of saliva allows bacteria to build up, and this can cause halitosis. Dry mouth can be a side-effect of some medications or may be caused by medical treatments. Other problems that can cause dry mouth include lung, throat or nose infections, liver or kidney problems, bronchitis or diabetes. If your mouth is healthy, your dentist in Newcastle might suggest visiting your family GP to discover the cause of your halitosis.
Smoking and Halitosis
If you smoke, you will already know that smoking causes bad breath and the only solution is to quit! There are lots of excellent reasons for stopping, as smoking makes your breath smell, your teeth will look yellow, and it affects your sense of taste and can irritate the gums. Your risk of gum disease is higher, as is your risk of oral cancer. There’s no denying it’s difficult to quit, but you can get lots of support from medical professionals.
How to Get Fresh Breath
If you do suspect you have bad breath, it’s worth coming to see us here at West Bowmanville Family Dental, and especially if it has been a while since you visited a dentist. We will closely examine your mouth to see if your bad breath is caused by underlying dental problems that require treatment. If necessary, we can provide a custom treatment plan to remedy any issues, and of course, every treatment recommended is explained in detail. We want you to understand fully how a dental procedure will help you.
Also, it’s well worth having your teeth professionally cleaned so book a visit to the hygienist. A professional dental cleaning removes all plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth, and you’ll get lots of useful advice on how to improve your daily oral hygiene routine. If you have always ignored flossing, let us show you how to do it properly, and you’ll be surprised at how quick and easy it can be. Maintaining fresh breath should be easy with good ongoing oral hygiene and regular visits to see our dentist in Clarington, and you can kiss goodbye to halitosis for good.
