Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, can have a large impact on your confidence and self-esteem, not to mention your social life. It may also indicate problems with your oral health or hygiene. It is important to ensure that you understand the underlying causes of bad breath in order to reduce the likelihood of it occurring. Visit us regularly at Leavitt Dentistry to prevent oral health issues and eliminate problems that can result in bad breath.
#1. Certain Foods
Though this may seem obvious, various foods can cause you to have bad breath. Garlic, onions, and other foods that have a particularly intense flavor are likely to leave bad breath behind. While this certainly doesn’t mean that you can’t eat these foods, it does mean that you should be conscious of how these foods impact your breath.
#2. Dehydration
It is crucial to remain hydrated, especially if you are concerned about bad breath. Not only is it important to stay hydrated for your general health, but it is also important to regularly drink water to help flush out food particles from the teeth.
When you become dehydrated, your mouth will dry out, and your saliva production is also likely to decrease. This results in an environment where bacteria thrive. The more bacteria are present in the mouth, the more likely it is that you’ll experience bad breath.
#3. Medications
Various medications can cause the mouth to dry out. Just like with dehydration, these medications create an environment that invites bacteria growth. If you notice that your bad breath arose around the same time that you began taking a new medication, it is possible that the medication is the culprit. You may need to change your medication to prevent bad breath and protect your oral health.
#4. Poor Dental Hygiene
Poor dental hygiene is one of the leading causes of bad breath. It is extremely important to ensure that you follow the appropriate dental hygiene practices in order to prevent issues from impacting your teeth. When you don’t sufficiently care for your teeth, it is likely that bacteria will be left behind. These bacteria feed on the sugary food particles, emitting foul-smelling waste. This leads to bad breath, which can be resolved when you improve your oral hygiene routine.
#5. Insufficient Denture Care
Individuals with dentures must properly care for their dentures. Dentures must be cleaned on a regular basis to remove harmful particles from their surface. When you don’t care for your dentures, it is extremely likely that you will experience bad breath and additional oral health issues. Ensure that you always care for your dentures according to your dentist’s instructions to keep them in good condition for as long as possible.
#6. Drinking Coffee
Drinking coffee can certainly lead to unpleasant breath. This is partially because coffee has a relatively intense flavor and partially because the components of coffee can impact saliva production. Additionally, creamers and sugar feed bacteria on the teeth, leading to problems with plaque formation.
#7. Smoking
Smoking is a dangerous habit that can cause tremendous amounts of damage to the teeth. Not only can it cause teeth to turn yellow, but it can also lead to bad breath. The smoky odor is likely to remain on the teeth. Smoking can also cause the mouth to dry out, which results in an increase in the amount of bacteria present within the mouth. If you are concerned about bad breath, quitting smoking is likely one of the best first steps to take.
#8. Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption can lead to many issues with overall health. This applies to oral health, as well. Alcohol can cause dehydration, which allows bacteria to accumulate quickly. Additionally, alcohol consumption often introduces more sugar to your regular diet. The more sugar you consume, the more fuel bacteria have available to feast on.
#9. Gum Disease
Gum disease often occurs when food particles accumulate beneath the gum line, which can lead to substantial health issues. It is important to pay attention to the signs of gum disease in order to prevent them from escalating and causing long-term damage to your smile. If you have gum disease, it is likely that you will experience bad breath. In order to prevent gum disease, you should visit us regularly to ensure your gums remain healthy.
#10. Low-Carb Diets
A low-carb diet can also cause bad breath. Once you reduce your carb intake, your body will change its energy-making method, breaking down fats to create the energy it needs. This process causes the production of acetone, which contributes to bad breath. It is important to keep this in mind when you intend to follow a low-carb diet, such as keto.
Protect Yourself From Bad Breath
Our expert team at Leavitt Family Dentistry is dedicated to providing you with the services that you need to minimize bad breath and prevent substantial issues with your oral health. Understanding the causes of bad breath will go a long way toward allowing you to avoid them and prevent halitosis from impacting your life. To learn more about the best methods for preventing bad breath and protecting the health of your teeth, contact our team at Leavitt Dentistry today!
