No one likes to be around someone who has bad breath.
But What if you’re the one who has bad breath? It can be incredibly embarrassing, and treating it on your own might be tricky.
Bad breath – also known as halitosis – is a common problem. 8 out of 10 Aussies believe that they have bad breath – and that makes them anxious!
If you\’re dealing with bad breath, you might be suffering the consequences of bad oral habits. It’s time to book an appointment with an emergency dentist in Armadale right away for a regular check-up, cleaning, and hygiene preventative programs that help tackle bad breath.
What can cause bad breath?
Depending on your lifestyle habits and the food that you eat, bad breath should be taken seriously, and necessary steps must be taken to treat and prevent it from occurring.
Our Armadale dentist shares some of the most common causes of bad breath.
Certain odour-causing food
The food you eat can contribute to bad breath, as foods with strong smells and flavours, such as garlic, onions, and spicy foods can leave an unpleasant odour in your mouth.
When you eat, food is broken down in two ways: mechanically (by chewing with your teeth) and chemically (by enzymes within your body, including in your saliva).
Food particles remaining in your mouth can lead to bad breath. Similarly, even after food has been digested, it enters your bloodstream and is carried to your lungs, and as such, can affect your breath.
You may want to look at reducing your intake of the following foods and drinks that lead to bad breath:
- Cheese
- Canned foods
- Coffee
- Alcohol
- Soft drinks and juices
Poor oral habits
Poor oral habits, such as not brushing and flossing your teeth frequently (or properly) can leave infection-causing bacteria on your teeth, gums, and tongue.
Such bad habits can also lead to gum inflammation or gingivitis, which in turn can lead to bad breath.
Other health-related problems
As we mentioned above, underlying oral health problems can lead to bad breath; consider it a symptom of sorts!
Plaque build-up, too, is another catalyst of bad breath. If not brushed away, plaque can cause small pockets in gums where food particles can collect. This can lead to not only an unpleasant odor, but periodontitis (gum disease), too.
Why does my breath smell even after brushing?
People who are mouth breathers – those that breathe through their mouth rather than their nose – may have a higher chance of developing halitosis.
This is because mouth breathing can cause a dry mouth, and saliva is critical to keep the mouth lubricated, assist in chemical digestion, and wash away bacteria.
However, you may need to also check with your health professional of other related illnesses and diseases that may be the cause of your bad breath, such as:
- Acid reflux
- Lung infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis
- Sinus infection or inflammation
- Diabetes
- Liver or kidney issues
Smoking
Smoking not only causes yellow, stained teeth, but can also lead to bad breath.
Beyond the stench of the actual cigarettes themselves, smoking dries out your mouth and is also a major cause of gum disease. All signs point to bad breath – so we suggest kicking this ugly habit!
How do you deal with halitosis breath?
Dealing with bad breath starts with good habits!
These are some steps that you can take at home to prevent and reduce your bad breath:
Brush and floss properly
Reduce any signs of bad breath by properly brushing and flossing your teeth, getting rid of any food, dirt and bacteria.
After each meal, make sure that you brush to remove surface stains, gently polish, and dislodge any remaining food, bacteria, and plaque from not only your teeth, but your tongue and gums, too.
Clean your tongue
At Dental Care Group in Armadale, we have invested in providing the world’s best tongue cleaning gadget and technique.
There are many tongue cleaning aids on the market, but we have sourced the best and simplest one. And it also happens to be quite inexpensive!
This gadget is fabulous at not only removing plaque and discolorations from your tongue, but it is in our opinion the single most useful method of decreasing halitosis!
Find out more about the importance of a healthy tongue in this blog post.
Watch your diet
As much as possible, reduce your intake of foods that cause bad breath like onions, cheese, garlic and spicy foods.
Avoid dry mouth and mouth breathing
Nasal congestion is one of the main causes of chronic mouth breathing. This is also one reason you might sleep with your mouth open, thus causing dry mouth.
Making this a habit can affect your overall oral health, as it can contribute to gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath.
Mouth breathing in children can also lead to a variety of health issues, including:
- Poor sleeping habits
- Bad breath
- Gingivitis and cavities
- Red and inflamed gums
- Crowded teeth
It can be a hard habit to break, but making a conscious effort to notice when you’re breathing through your mouth can help reduce the severity of bad breath.
How do I permanently get rid of chronic bad breath?
Book a visit with your local dentist!
If you want to get rid of your chronic bad breath permanently, the best thing to do is consult with a dentist in Armadale who can help you find the cause of the problem.
Depending on how severe your bad breath is, you can still reverse its effects, especially through early detection and correction while young.
So if you\’re having problems with halitosis and would like to take care of your teeth, mouth, and overall health, book an appointment with our Armadale dentistry.
What can a dentist do for halitosis?
Dental hygienist will usually help you identify the cause of bad breath by detecting it in various tests and techniques, such as:
- A halimeter
- A BANA test
- A gas chromatography
Got issues with bad breath? Call our Armadale dentist today!
Our family dental clinic in Armadale provides you with a gentle and caring approach, making you feel at ease from the moment you first walk inside our clinic.
Our friendly staff helps you understand and manage all kinds of oral health issues. We also believe in the power of patient education, helping you to develop good oral hygiene habits and understand what you can do to treat and prevent bad breath.
Call us on (03) 9509 1500 or schedule an appointment today.
(03) 9509 1500 to hear our full range of emergency, cosmetic, restorative, and general dental treatments for you and your family.
