Bad breath doesn’t always mean that you need to seek
immediate dental treatment, even if it doesn’t easily go away when you brush
and floss your teeth. While it’s true that dental infections, like tooth decay
and gum disease, can foul your breath as they progress, halitosis (chronic bad
breath) could just mean that your hygiene needs some improvement—before an
issue does develop. To help you
understand the source of your potential embarrassment, we explain a few common causes of halitosis, and how they make your breath smell bad.
Common Causes of Bad Breath
Hygiene
Unclean
teeth and gums can cause bad breath in a number of ways. By neglecting to
clean them, you can allow food particles to remain in your teeth, which can rot
over time and threaten your oral health, as well as your breath. Also, some oral
bacteria (particularly the ones that linger on your tongue) tend to release unpleasant
sulfur gases that can overwhelm your mouth.
Diet
Even if it doesn’t hang around for long, your
food can contribute to persistent bad breath in numerous other ways. If you
eat pungent foods, like garlic, the smell may not leave your mouth along with
the food. If you don’t receive the right kinds and amounts of necessary
nutrients, your body’s physiological responses can result in a foul smell being
passed through your bloodstream and expelled from your lungs.
Illnesses
Besides oral health issues, some systemic illnesses can also
contribute to bad breath, such as respiratory illnesses, diabetes, or
gastrointestinal (GI) complications. If
your bad breath continues after improving your hygiene, and your teeth and
gums are healthy, then you may have an underlying health condition, and could
be referred to your physician for treatment.
ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:
Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced
general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a
patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office,
and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs.
Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a
consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.
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