Do you brush and floss and use a mouthwash to freshen your breath, only to find that your breath doesn’t smell so fresh at all? Halitosis, another name for bad breath, can have you extra sensitive when you are interacting with the people around you. If after all your dedicated efforts to smell good fail, you may have an underlying condition that isn’t just caused by eating your grandmother’s garlic pizza or drinking your favorite morning coffee.
Normal bad breath odors can be washed away by brushing and flossing and gargling with an antiseptic mouthwash to remove food particles and clear upper throat odors. But there are other conditions that can cause unpleasant mouth odors.
–Dry mouth is a recognized medical condition and is caused by diminished saliva production in your mouth. Saliva is your teeth’s best friend, as it washes away food particles and bacteria that can cause plaque. Chronic dry mouth also increases the possibility of tooth decay and gum disease. Common causes of dry mouth are the consumption of caffeinated drinks which act as diuretics, as well as certain medications.
–If you smoke or chew tobacco, this can adversely affect your breath. The chemicals in tobacco, including tar, can not only stain your teeth but also cut down on saliva and keep your breath smelling like tobacco long after you smoke.
–If you have a mouth infection or a medical condition that involves the liver or kidneys you may suffer with chronic bad breath. People who have uncontrolled blood sugar or undiagnosed diabetes can have sweet-smelling breath.
–Oral infections like gum disease, tooth decay or oral yeast infections can be blamed for bad breath. Other medical conditions including problems with the liver and kidneys, or uncontrolled blood sugar or undiagnosed diabetes can cause unpleasant breath.
If you have bad breath that just won’t go away, you may want to see your dentist to rule out gum disease or tooth decay. If nothing is found you may need a visit to your doctor to make sure you don’t have an underlying medical condition that needs treament.
Please call our office today at 323-466-3541 if you have any questions or concerns about your oral health!