Bad breath is more than just embarrassing; it could be a sign of a more serious health problem. At Highland Advanced Dental Care, we have years of experience treating all sorts of oral and dental health issues. If you have been living with chronic bad breath, let us help.

Learn more about what could be causing your bad breath, then call us at 248-329-3552 to schedule an appointment. We will get to the root of the problem and come up with a plan to eliminate your bad breath.

Causes of Bad Breath

The first step to effectively treating bad breath is identifying what is causing it. Learn more about each of the five causes of bad breath listed below, and what you can do to keep your breath fresh.

Poor Dental Hygiene

When certain types of bacteria invade your mouth, they release toxins that cause bad breath. These bacteria typically feed off plaque and food debris that clings to your teeth when you don’t brush and floss properly.

To help combat these bacteria and keep your breath fresh, brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time, using a fluoride toothpaste. You should also floss between your teeth at least once a day. For a bit of a bonus cleaning, use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria and food debris from your tongue.

Oral Disease

Chronic bad breath could also be a sign of an infection like tooth decay or gum disease. In some cases, an old filling will wear out, letting bacteria get into a tooth and cause another infection.

Other signs of tooth decay and gum disease include tooth sensitivity, toothache, and bleeding or swollen gums. If you notice any of these, call our office today to make an appointment.

Diet

One of the most commonly recognized causes of bad breath is diet. What you eat affects the smell of your breath. When you eat smelly, pungent food like onion and garlic, the odors enter your bloodstream as they are digested. Once the odors reach your lungs, they will affect how your breath smells. Pay close attention to what you eat to determine if your diet could be the cause of your bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Saliva not only keeps your mouth from drying out but it also helps to keep your mouth clean. If your mouth isn’t producing enough saliva, it can lead to bad breath. This also explains “morning breath,” which happens when your mouth dries out while you sleep.

There are several factors that can contribute to dry mouth. If you feel like you are suffering from dry mouth, let us know and in the meantime, drink more water.

Smoking or Tobacco Use

Smoking or using tobacco both cause a myriad of health issues, including some that are much more serious than bad breath. However, it is still important to note that smoking and using tobacco contribute to less saliva production, a greater risk of gum disease, and chronic bad breath.

It’s time to say goodbye to bad breath! Call Highland Advanced Dental Care today at 248-329-3552 to schedule an appointment.