Even with the best oral hygiene, it can be difficult to combat halitosis. Halitosis is the technical term for “bad breath” and is very common in the U.S. Everyone can experience bad breath in their life and it can be caused by a variety of reasons. Gulf Coast Dental wants to let our Gulfport patients know where their halitosis can come from. Read on to learn more about some common causes of halitosis.
Certain Foods And Drinks
After eating a hearty meal, that food and drinks could linger in your mouth. Highly potent food like dairy, onions, garlic and spices can all cause bad breath. If you want to keep your breath fresh, you should avoid eating these foods or brush your teeth after your meal.
You can also expect some drinks to change the smell of your breath as well. These include alcohol and coffee. Drinks can dry out your mouth and promote bacteria to permeate. You can clear out your bad breath by avoiding these foods as much as possible.
Dry Mouth
A dry mouth can cause bad odors to linger. Saliva and water help displace the bacteria and flush out any food that could be trapped in your mouth. When your mouth is dry, it can be hard to displace the bacteria, causing bad breath. Some people may have experienced this when they have “morning breath” because their saliva production decreases when they sleep.
If you continue to rinse out the bacteria with saliva and water, you’re less likely to have bad breath. The best way to clear up your halitosis is by staying hydrated throughout the day.
Oral Health And Other Health Illnesses
Even if you brush and floss every day, some oral health and other illnesses can lead to halitosis. Some of these include:
- Cavities
- Gum disease
- Heartburn
- Asthma
- Tonsillitis
Because our bodies work as one cohesive unit, any of these conditions can lead to bad breath. Sometimes, bacteria can accumulate in your mouth from plaque or tooth decay and can cause foul odors. Other related illnesses and some medications can have the same effect.
Contact your physician if you believe that your persistent bad breath is coming from other possible health issues.
Dental Work
After dental surgery or dental work, you can expect to have some bad breath from dry sockets or bleeding. Getting extractions like wisdom teeth removals can cause halitosis until those wounds heal.
It’s important to follow the guidance given to you by your dentist after receiving dental work to ensure that there are no complications from the surgery. The sooner you heal from your dental work, the sooner you’ll be able to clean out that bad breath from your system.
Getting A Routine Dental Cleaning
Keeping up with your daily dental cleaning and routine check-ups is the best way to clear out any bacteria-causing halitosis. Your dentist can get your teeth feeling brand new and also double-check for any serious oral health concerns that could lead to bad breath. Contact our team at Gulf Coast Dental to schedule your appointment today!
