Common Causes of Bad Breath and How to Address Them
Is your breath smelling a little pungent? As a physical state that many people dread, bad breath can leave you feeling awkward. Fortunately, it's often easy to identify and address the causes of bad breath. Here are some to watch out for and ways you can tackle them.
Food Particles
Even if you brush your teeth twice a day and use mouthwash, there's a chance that food particles are still hiding between your teeth. The longer those food particles remain there, the higher the chance of them causing bad breath. As they disintegrate in your mouth, they'll give off a bad stench. Additionally, they act as food for bacteria that breed and cause bad smells. In addition to brushing your teeth and using mouthwash, floss each day. Doing so should remove food particles and help you stay fresh.
Alcohol Consumption
Although alcohol is a liquid, it contributes to dehydration. It also reduces the amount of saliva you produce. Both dehydration and a reduction in saliva make bad breath worse, as your mouth becomes an easier place for bacteria to breed in. Although you don't need to cut alcohol out altogether, you should approach it sensibly. For every alcoholic drink you consume, make sure you drink a glass of water too. That way, you're less likely to dehydrate and experience bad breath.
Thrush
Candida is a type of fungus that exists in everyone's body. Sometimes, conditions such as stress and illnesses that suppress your immune system can cause it to spread too heavily in your mouth. Certain medications contribute to it too. When you experience oral thrush you're likely to notice a thick white covering on your tongue and bad breath. When this happens, you may want to visit your dentist. They can prescribe medications that tackle thrush and leave your breath smelling normal again.
Dental Infection
Even if you do maintain a good oral hygiene routine, there's always a chance that a dental infection could still set in. If this happens, you may notice signs such as toothache, gums that bleed when you brush your teeth and bad breath. The best way to address these issues is to allow your dentist to perform a routine check. Using tools such as dental X-rays, they can identify signs of decay that you may not notice yourself. They can also offer treatments such as fillings, scaling and polishing. By tackling your infection, they'll banish your bad breath and make your mouth healthier overall.
For more information on general dentistry, contact a professional near you.
