Dealing With Bad Breath

Bad breath: nearly everyone has experienced it at one point or another. This embarrassing condition has encouraged many people to carry gum or mints for a quick fix. But consistently bad breath may be a symptom of an underlying problem, which is better treated than covered up. To determine if your bad breath might be helped by dental treatment, consider its common causes, as provided by our Redwood City cosmetic dentistry office.   

How Does Bad Breath Occur?

In some cases, bad breath is the residual odor left by what is put into the mouth. Pungent foods, like garlic, or tobacco products can leave their smell long after they’ve been used. 

More persistent cases of bad breath, also called halitosis, are the result of bacteria living in the mouth. As these bacteria grow and interact with our teeth, gums, and leftover food particles, they create compounds such as sulfur that have an unpleasant odor.

Causes of Bad Breath

Chronically bad breath may be caused by anything from poor hygiene to disease. In some cases, there may be multiple contributing factors at work. Common causes include:

• Diet: Certain foods can affect your breath in a number of ways. First, the food itself may have an undesirable odor. Then, as the food is digested, its odor is carried back into the lungs through the bloodstream, resulting in continued bad breath. Finally, the mouth’s bacteria that interact with food produce their own odor.
• Tobacco use: Smoking and chewing tobacco are well known for their ability to leave their scent behind.
• Gum disease or tooth decay: Gingivitis has the potential to result in bad breath, as pockets of bacteria form within and around the gum line. Similarly, a tooth that is suffering from deep or advanced decay may bring about bad breath. 
• Poor hygiene: The primary way to combat bad breath is through regular dental hygiene. If patients neglect to brush twice a day and floss daily, they are allowing bacteria to flourish and produce foul odors, as well as putting themselves at risk for gum disease and tooth decay.
• Dry mouth and “morning breath”: People who suffer from dry mouth have trouble cleansing the bacteria from gums and teeth. As a result, bad breath may form over time. When asleep, saliva production dramatically decreases, leading to this condition in the morning. 
• Low carbs: Carbohydrates might be avoided for various reasons, but when the body does not receive them, it begins to burn off stored fat. One result of this process is the release of compounds known as ketones - sometimes through the mouth - which carry an undesirable smell.
• Illness: Some diseases and conditions may produce bad breath. Acid reflux can bring stomach acid up to the throat and mouth, while diabetes may release ketone compounds. Less common but equally possible candidates include liver disease, kidney disease, thrush, and throat infections.  

Treatment for Bad Breath

The first step to treating halitosis should be hygiene. Very often, a proper brushing and flossing regimen can effectively improve symptoms. If this does not work, the following methods of treatment may be required, depending on the source of bad breath:

• Mouth rinse
• Cessation from tobacco use
• Change in diet
• Artificial saliva or increased fluid intake
• A deep (periodontal) cleaning
• Treatment of disease or illness

In the event your breath is caused by tooth decay, chances are it is widespread and more severe than a typical cavity. In such cases, restorative treatment will be needed to save your tooth as well as your breath. Treatment such as a dental filling, dental crown, or root canal may be necessary.

Keep Your Breath Fresh

Preventing bad breath is easiest when you understand its source. If treatment is necessary, we will be happy to assist you in any way possible. To schedule a check-up with Dr. Barthman and ensure your mouth is as healthy as possible, contact our office today.