Bad-smelling breath can affect the best of us after a flavorful meal. Usually, you can get rid of this unpleasant condition by brushing, flossing, or rinsing away lingering food particles in your mouth.
But sometimes, bad breath, also known as halitosis, can persist even after you complete your oral hygiene routine. Chronic bad breath might then be a symptom of a larger dental problem that may require treatment from your dentist.
You can better fight bad breath when you understand some of the primary causes behind this dental concern. Contact your Plantation, FL dentist for an evaluation of this condition as soon as you can. And read on to learn about four problems that may contribute to halitosis.
Strong Foods
Your diet is a major factor contributing to the formation of bad breath. Practicing oral hygiene will eradicate many acute cases of halitosis. But particularly strong foods, like garlic or onions, can lead to more persistent bad breath that brushing your teeth will not fix.
Fragrant oils within these types of foods will transfer to your bloodstream, reaching your lungs to give you smelly breath that can last longer than a day. Pay attention to the foods and drinks that you consume to learn how they impact your breath.
Poor Oral Habits
Oral hygiene will scrub away food particles that can contribute to bad breath, but this dental care does more than that as well. Your mouth naturally forms plaque over your teeth throughout the day. Brushing and flossing get rid of plaque before it hurts your smile.
But if plaque remains on your teeth, it will not only eat away at your dental structure. It can start to give off a foul odor too. Stick to a thorough and consistent oral hygiene routine so that your smile will stay healthy, clean, and fresh. Avoid other harmful behaviors like smoking or chewing tobacco that can also worsen bad breath.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth refers to a tacky, sticky feeling in your mouth that occurs when your mouth does not produce enough saliva to stay moist. This usually happens when you are dehydrated.
A dry oral environment will allow natural oral bacteria to spread more easily through your mouth, and they produce an odor as they do so. You can fight bad breath and dry mouth by staying hydrated.
Drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day to maintain adequate hydration levels. You may need to drink more than that if you also consume dehydrating agents like caffeine.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common type of oral infection affecting the gum tissue. Its early stage often shows bleeding, swelling, and soreness in the gums. But as the infection progresses, bacteria can build up in the gum pockets where it will smell and affect your breath.
This infection requires periodontal therapy from your dentist to treat. It does not go away on its own and will leave you with severe dental damage if left untreated.
But you can prevent gum disease by practicing good oral hygiene and preventive dental care. Seek early intervention and routine oral health care in Plantation, FL, by contacting your dentist online or by phone at (954) 251-0640.