Bad Breath

Bad Breath

Bad breath is a common condition that may go unmentioned because a person may not be aware that they have it. Meanwhile, others who notice it are too polite to mention it.

The most important thing to know when looking for bad breath symptoms is that there is almost always a reason for it. People don’t have bad breath just because they are unlucky. Bad breath is always caused by something.

Studies have shown that more than 70 per cent of bad breath comes from the mouth. The first remedy is regular and proper brushing and flossing of your teeth. Flossing is really important because it gets those bits of food out from between your teeth that your brush can’t reach. Rotting food is a common cause of bad breath.

If you get stuck into the brushing and flossing and your bad breath doesn’t disappear in about a week then it’s time to see your dentist.

Professional Cleaning

Your dentist or dental hygienist will be able to give your teeth and gums a thorough cleanse. They will get all the spots that you think you are getting with regular brushing and flossing but are actually missing just through bad habits.

They will also be able to attack any tartar on your teeth. Tartar is a mineral build-up that makes a yellow or brown deposit, often around the teeth. No amount of brushing will get rid of tartar—only a proper clean from your oral health practitioner will achieve that.

Gum Disease and Diet

Gum disease is another cause of bad breath. If you’ve got gum disease, you may be cleaning everything above the gum properly, but if you’ve got issues below the gum, or beneath the outer layer of the gum, then those issues can only be addressed by a dentist or hygienist.

Many people think that diet is a cause of bad breath. There are some things you can change with your diet to improve your breath but, as I mentioned at the beginning, bad breath mostly comes from your mouth.

One thing that’s definitely bad for your breath is smoking. People who smoke have worse breath from the cigarette smell itself and the drying of the mouth that smoking causes.

Time to See Your Doctor

If your dentist eliminates all the dental causes, and you haven’t got tonsillitis, a sinus infection or similar from your upper respiratory tract and you still have bad breath, there’s only one thing to do: see your doctor.

A common health condition that can cause bad breath is untreated diabetes. Actually, diabetes can be detected in a patient from a dental visit because of the smell of their breath.

Other conditions that can give you bad breath include gastroesophageal reflux disease, liver problems and certain types of cancers. On top of all that there are certain medications that can also lead to bad breath.

If bad breath persists then it’s time to go and see a doctor, because it may be that there’s something more serious going on.

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The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional personal diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a dental or medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or seen on the Site.

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