When someone has bad breath, it can hit you like a boxing glove. Unfortunately, it can also make a lasting impression, and not a good one! In addition to cavities and gum disease, bad breath, also known as halitosis, is among the top three reasons people go to the dentist.
While we can all recall an encounter with someone’s rank breath odor, the thoughts of having it ourselves is terrifying, although about 20% of the population reportedly do to some degree. When halitosis is our own, we don’t smell it although it is typically suspected by having a bad taste in our mouth or feeling our mouth is sticky and dry.
In most cases, bad breath is caused by bacteria accumulated in the gums and embedded in the back of the tongue. Certain conditions, including disorders in the nasal cavity, sinuses, throat, lungs, stomach or esophagus can also cause halitosis.
Ridding yourself of common bad breath is easy. Be committed to a twice-daily oral hygiene regimen, use a tongue scraper (particularly on the back of the tongue), floss daily and have regular dental check-ups to detect bacteria in the gums. If your mouth is dry, drink lots of water and use an oral rinse specifically formulated to replace moisture in the mouth.
Just as you avoid body odor with daily showers, you can avoid the ‘label’ of having bad breath by being proactive with your oral hygiene. If you have been irregular with dental cleanings, your mouth may be overly burdened with oral bacteria. Call toll free 1-866-9-Smiles to arrange a consultation so we can discuss ways to improve your smile’s health for fresher breath!
