Do you find yourself embarrassed to talk because you’re afraid your breath smells bad? You’re not alone – many people suffer from chronic bad breath. Often times, it’s caused from an excess amount of bacteria in your mouth – whether it’s on your tongue, gum tissue, or teeth. With severe bad breath, it may be a sign of an infection like gum disease or cavities. However, it can also have more subtle causes like smoking or chewing tobacco, poor diet choices, or even your dentures if they aren’t cleaned regularly. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place – you shouldn’t need to suffer from bad breath.
Visiting Your Dentist
The first step in anything dental related is to visit your dentist – so it’s no surprise that if you’re experiencing consistent bad breath that you should first consult your dentist. If it is a sign of infection, your dentist will want to begin treatment sooner rather than later before the infection spreads to other surrounding teeth.
Treating & Preventing Bad Breath
In most cases, your bad breath (also referred to as halitosis) is caused from a larger oral problem. The stench is usually relieved once the cause is treated. Often times, many patients will try to treat their breath problem with mouthwashes, mints, or chewing gum. However, if it stems from a larger problem, these will only mask the breath but won’t actually “cure” it.
To prevent situations like these, practicing preventive dentistry can make a drastic difference. Practicing excellent oral hygiene, regularly visiting your dentist, and maintaining a healthy diet can all decrease your chances of suffering from halitosis.
