HALITOSIS: FINDING AND STOPPING THE CAUSE
Few things make it tough to enjoy an intimate moment like bad breath. Even though everyone has bad breath occasionally, some people struggle with chronic or extreme bad breath. Also known as halitosis, worrying about bad breath can be a problem for men and women of all ages. If you worry about having bad breath, schedule an appointment with a board-certified dentist in Columbus, OH to find out if a bigger issue is the cause of your halitosis and what you can do to deal with it. Our team at DentalWorks – Easton reviews some of the most likely causes of bad breath, how you can stop halitosis, and strategies to avoid breath problems in this blog.
COMMON CAUSES OF BAD BREATH:
- SOME FOODS
Garlic, onions, certain spices, and coffee all leave odors that may linger even if you’ve brushed or popped a breath mint. The smell of these foods may remain as long they are being digested by your stomach.
- SMOKING
Using tobacco products (like smoking cigarettes) will leave you with bad breath. This distinct bad odor can often be smelled by others, even if you don’t smell it.
- ACID REFLUX
Chronic acid reflux is bad for both your stomach and breath. The acid that builds up in your stomach can get caught in the back of your throat, giving you bad breath.
- POOR DENTAL CARE
If you aren’t brushing and flossing your teeth every day or if you are not doing it correctly, you may have bad breath. Leaving bits of food in your teeth may also cause cavities and gum problems.
- DRY MOUTH
The saliva in your mouth will help to rinse away germs and food particles that cause bad breath and other problems. If you have a dry mouth, this could be contributing to your breath problems.
- ORAL INFECTIONS
Persistant bad breath may be a symptom of a larger problem. An oral infection (such as cavities and gum disease) can cause bad breath if it is not fixed.
DISCOVERING THE REASON BEHIND YOUR HALITOSIS
In case you have chronic bad breath, schedule an oral health examination and consultation with a board-certified dentist in Columbus, OH. Be prepared to talk about your diet, your oral hygiene routine, when your halitosis started, and your medical history. This will all help your dentist identify the source of your halitosis. During the physical exam, your dentist will check the health of your teeth, gums, and jaw, as well as feeling your neck for lumps and swelling. Digital x-rays or other diagnostic tests could be necessary to help your dentist determine the problem. Once your examination is done, your dentist will talk to you about the results and treatment options to freshen your breath.
STOPPING HALITOSIS
At DentalWorks – Easton, we offer custom treatment plans to eliminate your halitosis problem. The treatment your dentist recommends for your halitosis will be based on the underlying source. Your treatment may be as simple as improving your at-home dental hygiene routine or visiting the dentist more often for cleanings. If you have an infected tooth, you may need a root canal. Bad breath caused by gum disease could be fixed with scaling and root planing. Your dentist may also recommend visiting a general practitioner if your bad breath is related to chronic acid reflux or another medical problem.
PREVENTING HALITOSIS
- BRUSH YOUR TEETH
Remove bacteria and odors by brushing at least twice a day. Talk to your dentist about proper brushing technique and if they recommend a special toothpaste. In the morning, try brushing your teeth after you eat as opposed to first thing in the morning.
- FLOSS EVERYDAY
Make sure you are getting the debris and bacteria trapped between your teeth by flossing at least once per day. Think about flossing your teeth before you brush, so you can rinse everything away, as opposed to just moving it throughout your mouth.
- USE MOUTHWASH
If it’s not possible to brush your teeth after eating or drinking, rinse with mouthwash. Better than sugar-filled breath mints, a mouthwash will rinse away debris and bacteria during the day and gives you fresher breath.
- CLEAN YOUR TONGUE
After you’ve flossed and brushed your teeth, gently scrub your tongue. Some people use particular tongue brushes or scrapers, but your regular toothbrush and toothpaste should be enough to remove bacteria and lingering odors.
- STAY AWAY FROM TOBACCO
Reduce your risk of developing oral cancer and freshen your breath by quitting tobacco products. Talk to your doctor for information on tobacco cessation approaches that may help you quit.
- SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR DENTIST
In addition to keeping your teeth clean at home every day, you need to visit a dentist in Columbus, OH at least two times every year. Professional cleanings remove built-up plaque and tartar from your teeth that may result in bad breath. In your oral health exam, your dentist can identify and treat issues, like cavities or gum disease, that if left untreated, can cause bad breath and other serious problems.
- DRINK MORE WATER
Rinse away bacteria and lingering odors by keeping yourself hydrated. Drinking plain water throughout the day can also alleviate dry mouth, which often leads to halitosis.
- CHANGE YOUR DIET
If you’re worried about bad breath, think about avoiding garlic, onions, spicy foods, coffee, and other known culprits of halitosis. If you do eat any of these things, make sure you use a mouthwash or brush your teeth afterward to help limit odors.
FIGHT BAD BREATH
If you’re constantly worried about your breath, schedule an appointment with a board-certified dentist in Columbus, OH. At DentalWorks – Easton, our staff works with patients to idenify the source of bad breath and then create a personalized treatment plan. You may want to adjust your diet or improve your oral hygiene habits, but we’ll help you get fresher breath along with more confidence when you get close to anyone.
