Halitosis is more than just morning breath. It is a chronic, or persistent, bad odor that doesn’t go away with brushing alone. Halitosis is a result of any number of oral problems. If you suffer from chronic bad breath, you may have anxiety about mingling at your holiday parties this year. The good news is that your Polaris dentist can help diagnose the cause of the odor and have you ready for face to face greetings in time for the celebrations.
What Causes Halitosis?
Bad breath may indicate any number of oral issues ranging from mild to more serious. A few causes may include:
- Poor oral hygiene: Brush at least two times each day, floss, and rinse your mouth.
- Tongue: Bacteria loves to invade your taste buds. A tongue scraper is inexpensive and can help you get rid of the bacteria causing bad breath.
- Unclean dentures: Talk with your Polaris dentist to understand the proper way to clean your dentures.
- Cavities and fillings: A broken filling or an untreated cavity can cause bad breath if you’re not cleaning the area properly.
- Nutrition: The old saying, ‘you are what you eat’ can do a number on your breath. Sugary foods, garlic, onions, and coffee love to taint your breath. Healthy, nutritious foods promote strong teeth and bones and won’t cause nasty breath.
- Tobacco use: If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco products, your chances of having halitosis greatly increase. Of course, the effects tobacco and nicotine have on your overall health are dangerous, too.
- Illness: Colds, sinus infections, and other medical issues can contribute to halitosis. The bacteria in mucus will cause unpleasant odors that are difficult to avoid. Gargle with salt water and make sure you maintain a good oral regimen to reduce your bad breath when you are sick.
How Can I Treat Halitosis?
Halitosis can be a temporary problem like when you are sick or have eaten a strong smelling meal. On the other hand, if the problem persists, you need to have a conversation with your Polaris dentist staff on what may be the cause. If you see people avoiding you, or are conscientious of your own breath, know with confidence that our Polaris dentist, Dr. Young, can help you address the problem.
Make sure you are ready for your holiday festivities with a clean mouth and fresh breath. If improving your oral hygiene routine doesn’t curb your halitosis, make an appointment with our office for an oral cleaning. We will discuss what could be causing your bad breath. A clean, fresh mouth and minty breath will boost your confidence so you can enjoy your family or company gatherings and not have to worry about offending those around you with bad odors.
Give our office a call if you have any questions, and follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with current oral health topics. Happy Holidays from our Polaris dentist office!