Poor dental hygiene practices can lead to bad breath or halitosis, as it is known medically, which can be a symptom of other health issues. The foods you eat and other poor lifestyle choices can also aggravate bad breath. Halitosis can be prevented and treated at home and with the assistance of your dentist in Airdrie at Sierra Springs Dental.
What are the symptoms of halitosis?
The primary symptom of halitosis is persistent bad odour coming from the mouth that can be worsened in the morning, after smoking, drinking coffee, or eating certain foods with foul odour.
What are the common causes of bad breath?
- Certain foods and beverages – Bad breath results from some foods, including dairy, onions, garlic, and spices. Additionally, alcoholic beverages and coffee can dry out your mouth and encourage the growth of germs that produces foul breath.
- Oral hygiene issues – Food remains on your teeth and contributes to foul breath if you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily. Additionally, if you use dentures, food may become stuck behind them, giving off an unpleasant odour. Additionally, odour-producing bacteria can build up on the tongue, frequently neglected in routines for maintaining dental health.
- Mouth dry – The bacteria in the mouth that produce unpleasant odours are replaced by saliva. When your mouth is dry, saliva cannot wash odour-producing germs away, which leads to foul breath. Most people have “morning breath” because, while you sleep, your saliva production drops, resulting in a dry mouth and unpleasant breath.
- Smoking – Smoking can cause your mouth to dry, leading to poor breath and an ashtray-like mouth stench. Additionally, gum disease, another cause of bad breath, is more likely in smokers.
- Cavities – Plaque, made up of food particles and bacteria, builds up in cavities caused by tooth decay and contributes to a bad smell.
- Gum disease – Plaque accumulation on the teeth leads to gum disease, also known as periodontitis. Toxins are produced by the germs on your teeth when you don’t clean and floss correctly. This can aggravate gum inflammation, lead to food-holding pockets forming between your teeth and gums, and result in poor breath.
- Dental work – After extractions (such as wisdom teeth removal), bleeding or dry sockets can lead to foul breath until the incision heals. Since a dental implant infection can also result in foul breath, maintaining proper oral hygiene is essential to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Your bad breath may have potential causes that are not oral in origin. Heartburn, digestive issues, unmanaged diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, tonsillitis, sinus infection, and other significant ailments may fall under this category. Additionally, some drugs may induce dry lips or produce odour-causing substances.
Using mints, gum, and mouthwash will only temporarily mask the issue. Maintaining a good dental hygiene regimen will reduce foul breath most of the time. Contact your Airdrie dentist to make an appointment for a proper evaluation if at-home care is unsuccessful. It is crucial to identify the underlying reason for foul breath. Hence seeking professional advice is strongly advised. Call us at 403-945-4555 to book an appointment.
