Bad breath happens to us all. A super-garlicky meal, raw onions, and morning breath have given us all reasons to avoid breathing through our mouths. What about the times when your bad breath wasn’t caused by the usual suspects? What are other potential causes and how do you treat them?
Causes
Halitosis can be caused by many things – including certain medications. If you experience bad breath, the following reasons might clear things up:
Bacteria: Your mouth is moist, warm, and the perfect place for bacteria to hide. If you don’t brush after you eat, odor-causing plaque begins to form on your teeth and around your gums. The back of your tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria, as not only does food debris tend to collect there, but post-nasal drip and other sinus problems can lead to an accumulation of mucus.
Dry Mouth: Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth occurs when your body fails to produce the saliva required to naturally clean your teeth. In fact, what we know as morning breath is actually caused by dry mouth, as we produce less saliva when we sleep. Dry mouth can be caused by medications and may subside if you complete your course of treatment, but it can also be indicative of a problem with your salivary glands, so be sure to inform your dentist or other health practitioner if it is persistent.
Tonsil Stones: If you still have your tonsils, you may occasionally experience tonsil stones. Food debris, bacteria, mucus, and other undesirables can calcify and hide out in the tiny pockets of your tonsils. The result is a hard, yellowish, foul-smelling stone that (usually) eventually gets coughed out or swallowed.
Disease and Infection: Gum disease, infected mouth sores, tooth decay, throat infections, or gastrointestinal disorders such as reflux can also lead to bad breath. All of these conditions require the attention of a dentist or doctor; bad breath might be just the beginning of your symptoms.
Treatments
When gum, mints, and brushing aren’t enough, you might need to get more serious about your bad breath. Try suggestions below to cure your condition:
Practice good oral hygiene consistently! Some people can’t get away with only brushing twice a day. Try brushing after every meal – even snacks, flossing every day, and brushing or scraping the back of your tongue to reduce the amount of bacteria that gathers.
Drink lots of water! Some people try to replace water with caffeinated sodas, coffee, or even alcohol. All of those are diuretics and can dehydrate you. To stay hydrated, keep your mouth from drying out, and naturally rinse tiny particles of debris from your mouth, drink plenty of water at regular intervals throughout the day.
See your Reston Dentist! When all else fails, you can turn to Reston Dentistry for treatment. Your dentist can diagnose any disease or infection that is causing your bad breath and provide you with a treatment that is customized to your condition and lifestyle.
If a loved one has mentioned your bad breath or you’ve tried the bad breath test on yourself and failed miserably, call Reston Serenity Smiles to make an appointment. As the premier dentist in Reston, Virginia, we know exactly how to fix all of your dental concerns.
