Everyone wakes up in the morning with more than a little bad breath. It’s perfectly natural, but after brushing, your breath should be fine. If it isn’t or if you notice bad breath coming back later in the day, then there’s something causing it.
While bad breath isn’t a dental emergency (most of the time) it is unpleasant for you and the people around you. You want to make a good impression, but it’s hard when your breath causes people to be uncomfortable around you. Here are the most common causes for bad breath.
You’re Eating Food That Changes Your Breath
One of the biggest culprits to bad breath is the food you eat on a daily basis. If your food has strong smelling ingredients like garlic and onions, then it can impact the way your breath smells afterwards. The problem doesn’t just go away after a few minutes. Garlic and onion breath can last for hours.
Other food and drinks like coffee can also lead to bad breath. The good news is you can chew gum, eat some breath mints, brush your teeth or eat some sweet fruits to help get rid of bad breath from foods.
Bacteria Growth from Not Brushing
Another common cause of bad breath is a proliferation of mouth bacteria. The mouth is warm, moist and dark. It’s the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and we need the bacteria. It helps break down the food in our mouth, but if you eat too much sugar or don’t brush enough, the bacteria and grow and grow and grow.
Too much bacteria in your mouth can quickly lead to bad breath. The good news is brushing regularly should keep this from happening. It’s only when you allow it to grow unimpeded that bad breath becomes a problem. Don’t forget to floss too.
Dental Problems Leads To Bad Breath
If you’ve cavities and gum disease, then they could be causing your bad breath. Don’t forget that any dental appliances that don’t fit correctly can also lead to bad breath.
This is when you need to contact a dentist for your bad breath. These are all serious conditions that only get worse over time. We’re here to help get everything back to normal.
Dry Mouth
Saliva is very important to you mouth and can be caused by many things from breathing through your mouth, disease, medication and smoking. Without saliva to breakdown foods and get rid of bacteria, you’re asking for a case of dragon breath.
You can stimulate saliva glands through chewing gum or sucking on candy, (sugar free, of course.) You can also stop the behavior that’s causing the problem such as smoking.
Stop by if Your Bad Breath Isn’t Getting Better
If you’re bad breath isn’t getting better, then you may need the services of A Lifetime of Smiles. Many dental problems are easily known and require the use of X-Rays and other testing tools. Feel free to contact us today and we’ll get your breath fresh in no time.