You open your mouth to say “hello” to someone, and suddenly it hits you: smelly breath. You’re pretty sure it’s coming from your own mouth, so you do all you can in the moment: cover your mouth with your hand, turn your head to the side, and look for a convenient way to excuse yourself for a swig of mouthwash.
Does this situation sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Almost everyone struggles with smelly breath from time to time.
To some extent, an occasional bout of bad breath from time to time is just part of being human. It’s totally normal to have smelly breath if you haven’t brushed your teeth in a while, or if you just enjoyed some onion dip. But if your breath always smells, or if the odor persists after brushing, it might point to a more concerning dental problem. The sooner you know about it, the better!
Common Causes of Bad Breath
The following are some of the most common causes of bad breath that Orange City residents deal with.
Poor Oral Hygiene
To understand how to get rid of bad breath, you first need to understand what causes smelly breath in the first place. It all comes down to oral bacteria.
These tiny organisms live in your mouth, feasting on the sugar left behind after you swallow. After eating sugar, they release smelly, acidic substances. If left long enough, the acids released by oral bacteria also start breaking down your tooth enamel and causing decay, which adds to the smell.
Brushing and flossing regularly removes oral bacteria, along with the smelly substances they release. But if you’ve been neglecting your oral hygiene for a while, you may have an overgrowth of oral bacteria. The more of them you have hanging out in your mouth, the smellier your breath becomes, and the harder it becomes to eliminate the smell.
If you have been slacking on your oral hygiene, take bad breath as a sign you need to take it up a notch. Here are a few tips to help keep you on track:
- Set alarms on your phone to remind you to brush and floss.
- Choose a toothpaste flavor you really enjoy; this may motivate you to use it routinely.
- Keep a toothpaste, toothbrush, and floss in your purse or in your desk drawer.
- Set a timer for two minutes, so you’re not tempted to rush your brushing sessions.
- Consider using floss picks or a water flosser if using traditional floss is too hard.
These changes will do more than freshen your breath; they’ll also improve your oral health and overall health.
Gum Disease
Here’s some bad news about those smelly oral bacteria: they really like gum tissue, too. If you slack on your oral hygiene for too long, you may end up with an infection of the gums known as gingivitis. The relationship between gum disease and breath is a close one.
In addition to bad breath, gingivitis can also cause:
- Red, inflamed gums
- Bleeding and discomfort after brushing or flossing
- Gum and tooth sensitivity to heat, cold, and touch
It’s not uncommon for patients to get caught in a self-defeating cycle with gingivitis. Your gums bleed, so you stop flossing. You stop flossing, so your gums keep bleeding. The only way to break this cycle is to keep flossing (and brushing, of course). In many cases, the bleeding, sensitivity, and bad breath will go away within a couple of weeks once you get the gingivitis under control.
If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into a more advanced stage of gum disease known as periodontitis. Pockets begin forming between your teeth and gums, and eventually, the damage can lead to loose teeth and other more serious oral health conditions. Periodontitis requires more advanced treatments, like root scaling, antibiotics, and gum grafts. Thankfully, smelly breath starts warning you of gum disease long before it gets to this point. If you take action as soon as you notice the odor, you shouldn’t have to worry.
Dry Mouth
Another common cause of persistent bad breath is dry mouth. When there is less moisture in your mouth, the “concentration” of bacteria and their smelly excretions rises – and that makes your breath smell worse.
While dry mouth may seem like a minor annoyance, it is not something to ignore. Over time, since it encourages bacteria to multiply, it can also lead to tooth decay and cavities. That’s why, if you think you may have dry mouth, it’s important to explore and address its possible causes. Some of them are:
- Medications: Antihistamines, antidepressants, and ADHD medications can cause dry mouth. Your doctor may suggest adjusting your dose or using management tactics like sipping water throughout the day.
- Dehydration: If you don’t drink enough, your body won’t make enough saliva. Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses per day is a good starting point for most people.
- Allergies: If allergies are causing nasal congestion, you may be breathing through your mouth, which causes dry mouth. Talk to your doctor about allergy medications and other management options.
For patients with dry mouth, a dentist may also recommend a mouth rinse or toothpaste that encourages saliva production. Chewing sugar-free gum throughout the day can help, too. Keep your mouth moist, and the odors should subside.
Preventative Dental Care and Bad Breath
Routine dental care is also important to prevent and manage bad breath. If it has been more than six months since your last cleaning appointment, we highly recommend scheduling one. Not only can you make your teeth cleaner and healthier, but you will also be on guard against oral cancer.
Tartar Buildup and Bad Breath
You know that sticky, slimy stuff that builds up on your teeth when you haven’t brushed? That’s called plaque. It’s pretty easy to brush away, but if you don’t remove it, then it hardens into a substance called tartar.
As tartar builds up, especially along your gumline, it gives oral bacteria a place to hide. If you’ve been brushing and flossing, but your bad breath won’t budge, this could be why. Tartar won’t brush away; it needs to be professionally removed by a dental hygienist. Once it’s out of the way, you’ll have a much easier time maintaining your oral health and fighting bad breath.
Dental Hygiene Orange City Can Trust
A professional cleaning appointment also gives you the opportunity to seek personal dental hygiene advice. Your hygienist can point out areas you might be missing when you brush. They can also recommend flossing techniques, specialty toothpaste, and other products to improve your oral health. And as your overall oral health improves, bad breath tends to fade away, too.
If you’re struggling with bad breath, don’t hesitate to tell your dental hygienist about it. We know this can be an embarrassing problem, but it’s one that we see daily. Truly, there is no shame in sharing. Being honest with your dental hygienist about your struggles with bad breath can open the door to more effective halitosis treatment.
Bad breath can be annoying, but it’s actually a helpful indicator that something’s not quite right inside your mouth. Focus on oral hygiene, make a cleaning appointment, and talk to your dentist about more serious causes like dry mouth and gum disease. Don’t hesitate to contact Orange City Modern Dentistry if you’re looking for a new dentist in the area. Oral health is our top priority, and we take a preventative approach with the whole family.