Bad Breath: Causes and Remedies

The Problem of Bad Breath

Medically known as halitosis, bad breath is a problem that can happen to anyone. It is an embarrassing issue, and can cause anxiety, especially when it’s not easily remedied with gum, mints, or mouthwash. In many cases, halitosis can be remedied by keeping the mouth scrupulously clean. In other cases, it’s not that simple. Here, we’ll discuss some of the causes of bad breath, as well as some helpful remedies.

Your Food May Be the Problem

Digestion begins in the mouth, as your teeth and saliva begin to break down your food. Additionally, as your food is absorbed into your bloodstream and moves into the lungs, it affects your breath by infiltrating the air you exhale. Some food with strong odors can’t be eliminated from your breath until it has left your body. These foods include garlic and onions, of course, but also cheese, pastrami, orange juice or soda, alcohol, and certain spices. Sometimes, what you don’t eat can affect your breath as much as the foods you do eat. Dieters who don’t eat enough will have bad breath as their bodies break down fat and release unpleasant smelling chemicals.

Your Habits May Be to Blame

It should not be a surprise that poor oral hygiene causes bad breath. Failing to brush and floss can leave food particles behind in your mouth, which promotes bacterial growth and odors that come with it. Poor dental hygiene can also cause gingivitis, and this can cause halitosis, as well. Using tobacco-based products is also a bad move for your mouth. In addition to staining your teeth, irritating your gums, and impeding your ability to taste your food, smoking or chewing tobacco can also make your breath stink.

Some Halitosis is Caused by Health Issues

Dry mouth is a condition in which the mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva, and this can cause bad breath. Why? Saliva is important in helping to clean the mouth by removing particles that can make the breath smell bad. Sometimes, dry mouth occurs temporarily, like it does when you are sleeping and awake with “morning breath.” If it is chronic, though, it may require medical attention. Infections in the mouth can cause bad breath, but other illnesses can too, like tonsilitis, sinus infections, or upper respiratory infections. More serious conditions can cause bad breath too, including cancer, kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes. Sometimes, medication used to treat an illness can cause bad breath.

So, What Can You Do?

Taking better care of your mouth is the first step towards controlling bad breath. Brushing twice a day and after you eat, as well as using floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between your teeth, can help. Brushing your tongue and rinsing with mouthwash add another layer of protection against halitosis. Don’t smoke, and choose chewing gum over mints, because it helps your mouth produce saliva. Most importantly, see your dentist for regular checkups, so that any medical conditions that are contributing to your bad breath can be caught early and managed.

Choose the Right Dentist

If you need a dentist in New York, trust Park 56 Dental Group, where we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.