Do you have an inkling that your breath isn’t the freshest? Perhaps people literally turn the other cheek when you lean in to kiss them. Or perhaps there’s a noticeable flinch when someone catches a whiff of your dragon breath. Whatever the clues, you are starting to worry about fixing your halitosis.
Hey, bad breath happens to everyone. American Dental Association research has shown that 50 percent of adults have had halitosis at some point in their lives.
Halitosis by way of garlic bread or chewing tobacco is to be expected from time to time, but persistent bad breath without obvious cause is a warning sign to visit a dentist. If the smell persists even after brushing, flossing and mouthwash — it’s time to make an appointment with the team at Hancock and Johnston Dentistry. We can figure out the root cause of your bad breath and come up with a plan to tackle it.
What Causes Bad Breath?
As mentioned previously, some food and beverages can be to blame for halitosis, including:
- Cheese
- Pastrami
- Garlic
- Onions
- Orange juice or soda
- Alcohol
If you’re on a diet, you may also be subject to bad breath. The process of breaking down fat in your body can release chemicals that make your breath unpleasant.
Here are some other reasons you may be experiencing bad breath:
- Poor oral health care: Without regular brushing and flossing, food stays in the mouth, rots and leads to overgrowth of stinky bacteria
- Incorrect cleaning of dentures: Bacteria, fungi and food particles left to fester can be causing that halitosis
- Periodontal disease: Besides bad breath, you can also experience a bad taste in your mouth
- Dry mouth: If you aren’t producing enough saliva, your mouth can’t clean itself (chewing sugar-free gum can help with this!)
- Tobacco usage
- Health condition(s): Respiratory infection, bronchitis, postnasal drip, diabetes, digestive disorder, liver or kidney disorder
How Can I Fix Bad Breath at Home?
Assuming you have come in for a dentist visit and you do not have any bigger issues to take care of to clear your breath (health conditions, gum disease, etc.), there are certain actions you can take at home to help keep your breath fresh.
- Brush your teeth, gums and tongue with fluoride toothpaste right before bed and after as many meals as possible.
- Floss at least once a day — using a water flosser can actually be more beneficial to removing hidden food particles if you have access to one.
- Use antibacterial mouthwash. Avoid rinses that contain mouth-drying alcohol.
- Clean mouth guards, dentures, retainers, etc., each time before putting them in your mouth.
- Cut back on sugar, caffeine, spicy food and alcohol.
- Quit smoking.
- Drink plenty of water to help clear out bacteria and encourage saliva flow.
- Eat healthy foods that produce saliva, such as carrots and apples. Sugar-free gum works in a pinch, too.
How Can the Dentist Fix My Bad Breath?
Let’s say you’ve cleared garlic as a reason for your halitosis. It’s time to head to the dentist, where we will work with you to control bad breath with dental treatment.
Here is how we would typically proceed depending on the cause of the bad breath:
| Cause | Potential Treatment |
| Poor oral health/ plaque buildup | We can recommend specific mouth rinses and toothpastes that will kill bacteria causing bad breath |
| Gum disease | We may recommend professional periodontal treatment, as well as replacement of any faulty fillings |
| Health condition | If we can’t find the cause of your bad breath through dental inspection, we may recommend you follow up with your MD to figure out if your bad breath could be caused by a medical condition that needs treatment |
No matter how devoted you are to your oral care, you still need to make regular dental checkups, where we take care to remove any tartar buildup (which happens regardless of how well you brush and floss!). We also routinely check your gums for signs of disease. All of these measures together will help keep halitosis at bay! Contact your provider at Hancock and Johnston Dentistry to set up a visit.
