Bad Breath Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Bad breath can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. Your Dentist @ Healthy Roots will empower you with personalized solutions for bad breath, which will help you to improve self confidence and improve relationships.

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath is a very common problem and there are many different causes.

Bacteria, that coat your gums and teeth, release smelly gases that can cause persistent bad breath.
Bits of food caught between the teeth and on the tongue will decay and cause an unpleasant smell. So, correct and regular brushing is very important to keep your breath smelling fresh.
Strong foods like garlic, coffee and onions can add to the problem.

Your dentist @ Healthy Roots will show you the best way to clean your teeth and gums and show you any areas you may be missing, including your tongue.

Can other medical conditions cause bad breath?

Some medical problems such as throat, nose or lung infections, sinusitis, bronchitis or diabetes, liver or kidney problems can also cause bad breath.

Can smoking cause bad breath?

Tobacco also causes its own form of bad breath. It not only causes bad breath, but also causes staining, loss of taste and gum disease.

How can my dentist help?

Regular check-ups will allow your dentist @ Healthy Roots to keep a watch on plaque or bacterial built up on your teeth. Using advanced technology, the dentist will be able to clean all those areas that are difficult to reach. They will also discuss the most appropriate brushing techniques with you to help address the problem. If the odour is due to gum disease, your dentist @ Healthy Roots can treat the disease.

In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and the odour is not of oral origin, you may be referred to your family doctor or to a specialist to determine the odour source and treatment plan.

Can I do something to prevent bad breath?

To keep your breath fresh it is important to keep your mouth clean and fresh and get rid of any gum disease and tooth decay.

Your dentist @ Healthy Roots will

Discuss the appropriate tooth brushing techniques, duration frequency of brushing to help fight bad breath.
Give you a diet chart and discuss your sugar intake to help fight dental decay which in turn will help prevent bad breath.
Help you to demonstrate areas which are still left uncleaned after brushing and suggest you methods to help clean them.

What Products Can I Use to Eliminate Bad Breath?

You can buy a number of mouthwashes that claim to eliminate bad breath. However, many of these generally provide only a temporary way to mask unpleasant mouth odour. There are, however, several antiseptic mouth-rinse products that kill the germs which cause bad breath. Ask your dentist @ Healthy Roots about which product is best for you.