Bad breath can be an embarrassing and inconvenient thing! Halitosis can be caused by certain underlying medical conditions, foods we eat, and our oral hygiene habits.
Some of the most common triggers are:
Gum disease or tooth decay– a visit to your dentist to take care of these are necessary to treat this.
Dry Mouth- there are special toothpastes and mints to encourage saliva flow to help with this.
Medications and certain medical conditions- consult with your dentist about how to combat the specific causes you may be dealing with in this case.
Poor oral hygiene- invest in a good electric toothbrush (such as Sonicare) and make sure to brush twice a day, floss once per day and attend regular Prophylactic cleanings with your Dental Hygienist!
Foods and drinks- we all know that onions and garlic (and many other foods or drinks) can create a not so pleasant odor after consumption, just brush the teeth and tongue after you eat to fight the funk!
Tobacco use- obviously quitting would be our first suggestion, but if that is not an option for you, we encourage more frequent visits to your hygienist for a professional cleaning and really good at home care! You gotta step up your game!!
The first step in taking control of bad breath is figuring out the root cause of the problem. We can be a big help in this department. Talk to us about it!! We should always rule out any oral health problems, such as gum disease, decay or low salivary flow.
After we have done that, we can customize a cocktail of steps that can be taken to keep bad breath at bay!!!
Stay Fresh Friends!!!
