How Can I Treat My Bad Breath?
When was the last time you checked your breath? Of course, bad breath might be caused by eating garlic and onions, but we are talking about continuous bad breath that causes your peers and strangers to back away. Poor dental hygiene including dirty dentures, dry mouth, gum disease, using tobacco, and some medications may be the offender in this situation. It could also be caused by a hard to spot cavity or other underlying oral health condition. Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS can help you discover what is causing your bad breath and how to treat it.
What is the Root Cause of Bad Breath?
There are several things that can cause mouth odor. It’s obvious that some foods can cause it, but that is not likely an everyday problem. Continuous odor usually has an underlying reason:
- Medications, poor dental hygiene, dentures, or Dry mouth, can be the cause. If better oral hygiene doesn’t solve the problem, make an appointment with Dr. Evanson.
- An undiscovered health condition can also cause this condition, so consult with Dr. Evanson to make sure a more serious condition isn’t the cause of your problem.
Bad Breath Can Be a Critical Problem
Constant bad breath can be a critical issue, so pay attention to it. Often you can improve bad breath with consistent proper dental hygiene every day, but if that doesn’t take care of the problem, make an appointment with Dr. Evanson.
Reasons to See Dr. Evanson Regarding Your Bad Breath
Gum Disease
Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums from poor dental hygiene can cause unpleasant mouth odor. If you notice a bad taste in your mouth on a constant basis, you may have gum disease caused by plaque, which is a cavity causing bacteria on your teeth and gums.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can lead to tooth decay due to the lack of saliva. Saliva works to keep your mouth moist, and if you don’t produce enough saliva, your mouth isn’t being cleaned as it should be. Frequently medications are the cause of dry mouth, but problems with your salivary glands can also cause dry mouth. You can produce more saliva by eating foods that require a lot of chewing, such as carrots, apples, or celery. Sucking on sugar-free candies or chewing sugar-free gum will also increase saliva production without adding sugar to your diet.
Medical Conditions
Although bad breath itself is not serious in most cases, it can be a symptom of a serious medical issue. Periodontal diseases can lead to kidney and liver failure and heart problems.
How Do You Know When You Have Bad Breath?
Usually, you can taste an unpleasant taste in your mouth when you have bad breath. If someone doesn’t tell you directly that your smell is off putting, you may not know that it is unpleasant. Try this self-check method on ways to check your own breath.
- Lick the back of your hand, let the saliva dry and then smell the saliva.
- Floss your back teeth and smell the floss.
- Scrape your tongue, let the scraper dry, then smell the scraper.
This self-check method will give you a general idea of how your breath smells. If you’re not confident in the self-check, you can also ask someone close to you to confirm your bad-breath concerns.
Regular Dental Check-ups Are Essential
If you’re troubled with bad breath, make an appointment with Dr. Evanson. Regular dental checkups allow her to detect problems before they become serious issues. You can make an appointment online or call us at (720) 409-0008, and kiss your bad breath goodbye!
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