If you constantly find yourself battling bad breath, you are not alone. Bad breath, or halitosis, can make your life miserable if you are always feeling self-conscious when you are around others. There are a myriad of factors that could be causing your bad breath, and we highly recommend seeing your doctor and our team to root out the source so it can be properly addressed. This is important because there are many factors that could be playing a part.
What Causes Bad Breath?
-Oral bacteria coating the tongue interact with amino acids in the foods you eat, creating odorous sulfur compounds. Brushing your tongue to remove it can lower bad breath by up to 70%.
-The foods you eat, like garlic and onions are also absorbed into the bloodstream where it can affect your breath until the food leaves your body.
-If you don’t clean your teeth, gums and tongue daily, bits of food particles can linger on those surfaces, feeding the oral bacteria. Brushing and flossing every day and getting routine dental exams and cleanings to remove hardened plaque (tartar) help prevent bad breath (and taste) in your mouth.
-If you wear dentures, the same thing can happen if you don’t clean them daily to remove bacteria, fungi, and stray food particles, leaving you with bad breath.
-Gum disease, or more specifically, periodontal disease can be the culprit and will require treatment to eliminate this issue.
-Dry mouth, also known as Xerostomia, is a common culprit of halitosis. Normally, your saliva rinses away oral bacteria and bits of food left behind after chewing. Without proper hydration, your saliva is diluted and ineffective. You can get dry mouth if you take certain medications, breath through your mouth instead of your nose or have a problem with your salivary glands.
-Using tobacco products, whether that is cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco or chewing snuff.
-Certain medical conditions like a respiratory infection, chronic bronchitis, postnasal drip, chronic sinusitis, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or stomach issues can leave your breath smelling and tasting bad.
Call Today!
If you find yourself with chronic bad breath, we can help! Stepping up your daily oral hygiene care along with routine dental cleanings are an important part of prevention and treatment, as well as treating the causes listed above. Our Denver Restorative Dentistry team offers effective halitosis treatment in Broomfield, Colorado. Call 303-586-1019 to schedule a visit with one of our skilled prosthodontists, Dr. Goggins, Dr. Aguirre, and Dr. Pitz. Your smile deserves the best!