Bad Breath & What It Means

Everyone gets a not-so-great taste in their mouth once in a while after eating certain foods or forgetting to brush their teeth. But if your bad breath becomes chronic, there may be a more serious underlying cause. Here are a few causes of bad breath that can be related to your oral health.

Dry Mouth

Some people have an issue where their mouth where it doesn’t produce enough saliva and they always feel parched. Saliva doesn’t only keep your mouth from being dry but it also constantly washes out your mouth. So, if you aren’t producing a sufficient amount to keep your mouth clean, bad breath can be a common occurrence.

Gum Disease

Chronic bad breath could be a warning sign of gum disease. It is often caused by the buildup of plaque on the teeth and gums.

Smoking/Tobacco

Smoking not only gives you bad breath but it can stain your teeth and increase your chances of developing more serious health problems. Tobacco also leads to a greater risk of gum disease which, as mention earlier, can be an underlying cause of bad breath.

Bacteria

Many different types of bacteria live in your mouth and some of these can be the culprit of bad breath. Because your mouth is a naturally hot place, it is very easy for bacteria to grow and feed on the food remnants left in your mouth

Ways To Eliminate Bad Breath

There are a few oral health hygiene practices that anyone can do to decrease their chances of having bad breath. Most of them are pretty standard for a daily routine, but they’re important!

• Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to get rid of bad-breath bacteria
• Take care of your tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scraper
• Use mouthwash to kill bacteria and mask bad breath
• Clean your dentures and retainers daily
• Eat healthy foods that require a lot of chewing to increase the amount of saliva in your mouth
• Quit Smoking
• Make regular visits to your dentist

Courtesy of Mouth Healthy