Do you experience a constant struggle with bad breath? Do you feel like you’ve tried every possible mouthwash, gum, mint, and breath spray on the market to no avail? If so, the problem could be that you are simply trying to mask the problem rather than dealing with the root cause. If you feel like you’ve tried everything, consider whether one of these five little-known causes of bad breath might be the culprit.
People who suffer from excessive dry mouth, a condition known as xerostomia, often experience chronic halitosis, or bad breath. This condition causes your body to decrease production of saliva, which is necessary to cleanse your mouth of particles and bacteria that cause odors. People with dry mouth are also more prone to tooth decay because they lack saliva that helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. Xerostomia is often caused by certain medications and other issues discussed below, but it may also be due to a problem with your salivary glands. If you think you may have dry mouth, consider consulting an expert at Norge Dental Center. We can help you determine the cause of your dry mouth and help you create a plan to resolve your issue with bad breath.
Some medicines are known to cause bad breath. This happens for one of two reasons. Some medicines cause reduced saliva production, leading to xerostomia, as described above. Other medicines produce bad breath by releasing chemicals into your bloodstream. Once the chemicals in your bloodstream reach your lungs, they may begin to affect your breath. Some (but not all) of these types of common medicines have been known to cause bad breath in some patients.
If you take one of the types of medicines listed above, check with your dentist to find out if your specific medicine could be the cause of your bad breath.
One reason sinus and allergy issues can cause bad breath is directly related to the two issues above. A common treatment for these issues is antihistamine medications, which lead to a decrease in saliva production causing dry mouth. Another reason sinus and allergy issues cause bad breath is because the post nasal drip associated with these issues introduces additional odor-causing bacteria into the mouth and lungs. If you experience frequent sinus infections or allergy issues, this may contribute to your problem with bad breath.
It has been estimated that as many as 80% of Americans experience some stage of gum disease at some point in their lives. With gum disease, the bad breath culprit is again bacteria, which produce acid that corrode your teeth and odors that can lead to bad breath. The best ways to prevent gum disease are by brushing and flossing at least twice a day, and by having regular dental check-ups. If you have gum disease, you’ll need the help of your dentist to identify what stage and then how to best treat it. If you haven’t been having regular dental checkups, you are at a high risk of having gum disease. So, if you suffer from bad breath you haven’t been able to control, and you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time, now is the time to seek help.
The same odor-causing bacteria that cause gum disease also cause cavities. Cavities are essentially decaying teeth, and the smell of decay is just not pleasant. Just because your teeth don’t hurt doesn’t mean you don’t have cavities. They often form and continue to worsen long before you feel them. If you are having a problem with bad breath and you haven’t been checked for cavities in a while, don’t wait any longer. Left untreated, cavities can escalate and require serious dental procedures to fix.The takeaway here is this: if you feel like you just can’t get rid of bad breath after trying what seems like everything, there may be a cause that you can’t solve on your own. Give us a call at Norge Dental Center. Our Williamsburg dentists and team of oral health experts are highly trained and experienced at determining the root cause of bad breath. We’ll help you identify the problem and create a plan to fix it once and for all.
At our practice, we believe that a truly exceptional smile transformation requires more than just skillful hands. It requires cutting edge technology and a commitment to working with the very best partners in dentistry. That is why we use tools like iTero digital scanning, digital CBCT scanning, and high quality dental laboratories. Together, these innovations deliver a smile makeover experience that feels exclusive, luxurious, and entirely tailored to you.
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Read MoreWhether you’re new to the Williamsburg area, or new to the Norge Dental family… we welcome you to a new dental experience. We are so thankful you are here.
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