When you think about the causes of bad breath, you probably think about culprits like a lack of oral hygiene and eating pungent foods like garlic. While these can contribute to unpleasant breath, there is often a lot more at play. To really understand how breath problems arise, you need to understand how many factors can affect how fresh your breath smells. Lovett Dental Corpus Christi is here to help you learn more.
Lifestyle Choices and Bad Breath
Quite a few of the causes of bad breath are things you can control, like your diet. Sometimes you can inadvertently forget about how much things like daily coffee consumption contribute to mouth odor. Brush your teeth and tongue thoroughly after consuming anything that has a strong odor. If that fails, try to have some mints on you.
Tobacco is also a major cause of bad breath. Nicotine not only leaves a stale taste in the mouth, but it leaves a stale smell as well. Quitting smoking is your best course of action. If you are not ready to do that, consider brushing after each smoke.
Health Issues and Bad Breath
Some health problems can lead to bad breath. Your breath could be a sign that there is something more serious going on, such as issues with your respiratory system and even cancer. Organs that are far lower in your body, such as your kidneys and liver, can have issues that cause trouble with your breath. Focus on getting these issues solved so your breath and overall health do not suffer.
Ineffective Oral Care
If you do not have any other health problems, do not smoke, and are mindful of what you eat, you might think that there is no reason for your bad breath. To top it all off, you brush your teeth multiple times a day. However, just putting a toothbrush on your teeth does not mean you are doing enough. You need to get rid of the food that accumulates on your teeth during the day, and you need to do it right.
When you brush your teeth, you also need to get into your gums and onto your tongue. Flossing is also extremely important for eliminating bad breath. Many pieces of food get stuck in between your teeth and cannot come out without the aid of floss. Your dentist can help you by demonstrating proper flossing technique. As with many healthy practices, consistency is key. It is also important to get your teeth cleaned professionally by your dentist at least once a year.
Oral Devices
While apparatuses like braces, retainers, and dentures help to improve your smile, they can cause problems if you do not clean them properly. While metal braces must stay on, you can keep them clean by following the same oral hygiene practices as before. Keep bad breath at bay by not eating food that is likely to get stuck between the brackets, such as popcorn. Place retainers and dentures in proper cleansing solutions to help them get rid of any food or beverages that have gotten caked on them during the day.
Pregnancy and Bad Breath
Pregnancy makes your body go through many changes, and some of these can cause bad breath problems. Morning sickness and the unpleasant after-effects can result in bad breath. You can also find yourself more drawn to foods that do not do your breath any favors.
Contact Lovett Dental Corpus Christi for Bad Breath
We are a multidisciplinary dentistry practice focused on six types of care, including pediatric dentistry, periodontic, orthodontic, and endodontic services. If you need help with bad breath or any kind of dental services, please call Lovett Dental Corpus Christi today at 361-986-1117.
