Halitosis, also known as bad breath, happens when leftover food lingers in your mouth. Bacteria thrive in such an environment and eat this leftover, producing foul-smelling chemical compounds. Bad breath can have various causes, from eating habits and poor dental hygiene to smoking and health issues like heartburn and acid reflux.
Bad breath can be embarrassing. The last thing you want is for people to have a bad impression of you. Learning about the root cause of your bad breath can help you find a solution. Evaluating your dental health to find the cause of your foul-smelling breath can help you discover other underlying problems as well. Visit a dentist in San Diego, CA today.
Potential causes of bad breath
- Dental appliances.
Orthodontic appliances, such as fixed bridges and dentures, can be challenging to maintain. Most people think that since these devices work as artificial teeth, they do not need to be cleaned. However, it is important to clean them daily. You should brush your teeth twice a day, floss, use mouthwash, and rinse your mouth after every meal or snack. These dental appliances are magnets for food particles and can trap them easily, leading to bad breath.
- Smoking.
Smoking cigarettes and consuming tobacco in any other way can lead to foul-smelling breath. Tobacco, even after hours of consumption, can leave your mouth smelling weird. Smoking is also bad for your overall health and can increase your risk of gum disease, ultimately leading to poor health.
- Eating and drinking patterns.
The things you eat and drink decide how your mouth smells. Consuming too much alcohol can lead to halitosis, according to a study. The smell can linger in your mouth for a while. Alcoholics experience factors like dry mouth, increased risk of periodontal disease, and increased sulfur compounds responsible for their breath smelling bad.
Eating smelly food like garlic, onions, radishes, etc., can make your breath smell bad for hours. Even when it goes away, it can still come back up if you burp. That being said, not eating all day and skipping meals can also cause bad breath as less saliva is produced.
- Drugs.
Sometimes, your food and lifestyle habits are not the cause, but your medications are. Certain drugs can decrease saliva production and cause dry mouth, leading to bad breath. For example, some chemotherapeutic compounds, nitrates used to treat angina, and some tranquilizers like phenothiazines.
If you struggle with bad breath even after taking care of your oral hygiene, there must be some underlying cause that needs to be addressed. Visit your dentist today.
