It’s a stinky subject indeed, causing anxiety, embarrassment, and worry. It can put a damper on your social life and scare away romance. What is that smell?! Bad breath, formally known as halitosis.
According the ADA, studies show that 50% of adults have had bad breath at some point during their lives. And if you don’t fall into that smelly statistic, you have most likely gotten a whiff from someone else. Bad breath isn’t a one smell fits all. There’s morning breath, coffee breath, garlic breath, smoker’s breath, and the list goes on. Since bad breath is such a common problem, there’s an entire industry dedicated to freshening breath. I don’t see Altoids going out of business any time soon. Thank goodness for breath mints, gum, and mouthwash! While they sure do help, they are just a temporary fix.
There are a variety of causes for bad breath, but the most common is due to poor oral hygiene. Sometimes bad breath is caused by underlying health conditions, so it’s important to consult with your dentist to get to the root of the problem.
Here are some potential causes of bad breath.
Bad oral hygiene: Skimping on oral hygiene will surely give you smelly breath. In addition to routine dental visits, brushing your teeth regularly removes the slimy film known as plaque, and flossing removes debris trapped in tight crevices that your toothbrush cannot reach. Your tongue also needs a good scrubbing with a toothbrush or tongue scraper. The tongue can trap odors and accumulate a coat of bacteria, making your breath stink. Same goes for dentures that are not properly cleaned.
Digestive issues: Your mouth is the porthole to your stomach, and naturally the main escape route for foul odors. The smell of a burp is quite revolting, similar to what is known as gastrointestinal bad breath or “stomach breath”. Some issues that can cause this type of bad breath are bowl obstruction, gas, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), or an imbalance of your gut bacteria.
Dry mouth: Your mouth should never be as dry as the Sahara Desert. If you suffer from a severe case of dry mouth please inform your dentist. Saliva has the important role of helping to naturally cleanse the mouth by flushing out debris, keeping it moist, and neutralizing acids. When saliva production is reduced, a dry mouth becomes a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria. Drinking lots of water can help alleviate dry mouth.
Food debris: Pungent food such as garlic, onions, and spices can result in bad breath. It’s more than just the food itself. When food spoils, it eventually rots. When you eat, small food particles get trapped in between your teeth and gums. If the food is left to fester in your mouth, it will mix with bacteria and produce a foul odor. Gross!
Health Problems: Sometimes bad breath can be a symptom of an underlying medical problem such as allergies, certain cancers, chronic acid reflux/GERD, diabetes, kidney and liver problems, or sinus infections. If practicing good oral hygiene doesn’t cure your bad breath, you should inform your primary care doctor who can further investigate the cause.
Medications: Bad breath and dry mouth (which can cause bad breath) are sometimes unpleasant side effects of certain medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, birth control, decongestants, blood pressure medicine, indigestion relief, and hormone replacement medicine. Just because it can be a side effect does not mean you will definitely experience bad breath from taking those medications. Keep in mind that everyone reacts differently.
Tobacco: Smoking, chewing, and dipping will leave you with offensive breath, hands down! Tobacco produces a stale, sour odor in the mouth. Smoking a cigarette not only makes your mouth wreak like an ashtray, but the smell travels to your lungs where it can linger for hours. Aside from the smelly side effect of tobacco use, it also comes with deadly risks like cancer.
Does my breath smell bad? If this article leaves you wondering about your breath, consider doing the “wrist lick test”. Simply lick your wrist, leave it to dry, and then smell it. If it smells bad, so does your breath. If you find your self second-guessing, you could always ask a trusted friend to take a whiff.
If you are having difficulty getting rid of your bad breath, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.