Have you ever wondered, “Why does my breath stink?” This is a common issue for a lot of people and stinky breath, also known as halitosis, is usually easy to treat. Certain foods, inconsistent or a lack of dental hygiene, and health issues are among the most common issues of bad breath.
To quickly combat stinky breath, we recommend changing your dental hygiene routine first. Once you implement a regular routine, you should start to notice a change with your breath. If your stinky breath persists, come see us for a check up to see if there are any periodontal issues that can be treated. If we don’t find dental health issues, we recommend that you see a physician to rule out more serious health issues.
Having good breath comes down to a proper, thorough dental hygiene routine. Check out these common causes of bad breath below and follow some of these tips and tricks to treat it.
Causes of Bad Breath
Foods
When you eat, there are left over particles that remain in your mouth, often trapped between your teeth. This can cause unhealthy bacteria to grow. This is also why you might notice that certain strong-smelling foods can immediately cause your breath to stink.
Smoking and Tobacco Products
Smoking and Tobacco products can cause gum disease, which results in bad breath. Smoking also dries your mouth out, also leading to poor breath.
Dry Mouth
Saliva is a natural way that your mouth maintains its healthy state. Saliva breaks down bacteria and keeps your gums healthy. The stasis of your saliva changes as you sleep, which is why you notice a dry mouth in the morning. Changes to your saliva are normal. However, sometimes a chronic dry mouth is out of your control, and might be related to salivary gland issues or other diseases.
Medications
Certain medications can cause dry mouth. Like we mentioned above, a dry mouth can affect your breath. Some medications affect your breath when they are broken down into the stomach.
Infections
If you have periodontal disease or other infections of the mouth, you may notice it affecting your breath. Oral surgery or the removal of a tooth can also cause temporary bad breath as your mouth is healing.
Poor Dental Hygiene
Skilling out on regular hygiene practices not only causes bad breath but can also cause other serious health issues. It’s a trickle-down effect. Slacking on the little habits can wreak havoc in the long run. So it’s important to take care of your oral health daily.
How to Treat Bad Breath and Have Good Breath All Day Long
Brush, Brush, Brush
Brushing shortly after you eat is a quick way to keep your mouth fresh. It also rids your mouth of excess food particles that cause bacteria growth.
Hydrate
Staying hydrated is important for every function of your body, including the health of your mouth. Hydration helps with saliva production and saliva is key to balancing the bacteria production in your mouth.
Floss
Flossing at least once a day is a great way to keep your breath fresh. There are food particles that can’t be reached with brushing alone. This is where regular flossing becomes crucial. If you notice that your breath starts to smell worse while you’re flossing, this is a sign that bacteria has been trapped between your teeth.
Use a Tongue Scraper
Bacteria can build up on your tongue, especially in the back of your mouth. Keeping your tongue clean is easy to do with a tool like a tongue scraper.
Adjust Your Diet
Eating less sugar, which is a big culprit of unhealthy bacteria production, can help reduce bacteria that causes bad breath.
