With more opportunities this summer to share our smiles what better time to take a moment and consider our dental health. Enjoying time with friends and family feels great so making sure we keep our breath fresh and healthy isn’t only appreciated but also supports good oral health. Let’s take a look at a few of the major culprits that affect fresh, healthy breath.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Some are harmless, temporary and some can be more serious but all of the below are causes of halitosis.
Food
This one is obvious. If you eat pungent food that contains onions or garlic or enjoy a cup of coffee, the strong smell can linger on your breath. In addition, when you eat, the bacteria that naturally occurs in your mouth feeds on the food left in your mouth and leaves a foul-smelling waste product behind.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco not only stains your teeth and gives you bad breath but it is harmful in many ways. Outside of affecting our ability to taste and smell, it also can lead to gum disease and other major oral health concerns like cancer.
Gum Disease
Speaking of gum disease, having this condition can cause bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth that can not just be brushed or rinsed away.
Dry Mouth
When your mouth does not produce enough saliva, your missing out on your body’s natural way of flushing bacteria from your mouth. Caused by mouth breathing, potential gland issues or certain medications, dry mouth resutls in less saliva to wash away food and other debris. Saliva also neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth.
Medical Conditions
Sometimes bad breath can be a sign of an underlying health concern. Reflux, sinus conditions, diabetes, and other health issues should be looked at if you are taking all other measures to combat bad breath and still are not finding relief.
Be mindful of your breath not only for your friends and family but also to make certain it isn’t a tell-tale sign of any underlying health concerns. If you have questions about how to maintain healthy breath or would like to schedule an appointment to have a check-up, call our office at (248) 852-3130 and we can help you give your dental health the attention it deserves.
