Do you have bad breath? Bad breath is something we all find ourselves worrying about as we go through our day. It is one of the most common reasons for a patient to visit my Beverly Hills dental office. Most people suffer from bad breath (sometimes called halitosis) at least occasionally. But bad breath is not untreatable.
Before you reach for minty chewing gum, here are some of the most common causes of bad breath and what you can do to prevent it.
Poor dental habits can cause some serious bad breath. If you are not brushing and flossing two to three times daily, food particles can get caught between your teeth and under your gums, causing bacterial growth and bad breath. Patients with poor dental hygiene are also much more likely to develop tooth decay and gum disease. These patients are much more likely to need treatments such as root canals in Beverly Hills.
To prevent growth of odor-causing bacteria in your mouth, I suggest you are diligent about brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist twice a year. Bacteria thrive on the tongue, so it is also important to clean the tongue, either with a tongue scraper or a toothbrush. Many toothbrushes have tongue scrapers on the other side. If you use dentures or fillings, be sure to take extra care to clean your teeth thoroughly to remove all food particles.
Periodontal disease is one of the top causes of bad breath. Gum disease is a result of an excess buildup of bacterial plaque on your teeth. When your teeth begin to decay due to poor dental health, the gums around your teeth also start receding, creating pockets in your gums where odor-causing bacteria can thrive.
If you suffer from gum disease, there are various treatments that you can undergo to treat the disease while reducing the impact of bad breath. Non-surgical gum therapy is a form of treatment where the harmful bacteria are removed from the pockets in your gums through a deep cleaning. The treatment has been proven to be an effective method of treating the effects of gum disease, including bad breath.
We all know the familiar unpleasant taste and odor commonly known as morning breath. Morning breath happens while your mouth is inactive during sleep. Throughout the day your saliva is working to break down chemicals left in the mouth after you eat or drink. At night, however, your production of saliva stops and odor-causing bacteria can roam free until you wake up the next morning.
Some people suffer from chronic dry mouth, which can breed lots of smelly bacteria if left untreated. Be sure to drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day to give your mouth the hydration it needs to produce bacteria-fighting saliva.
Do you frequently have bad breath despite good dental hygiene? Call Dr. Aurasteh at Oral Care Dentistry today. Sometimes bad breath is caused by gum disease or other factors you cannot fix on your own at home. To learn more, call us at (310) 247-1252 to schedule an appointment.
