Bad breath, also known as halitosis by doctors, is usually a result of poor dental hygiene but could be an indicator of a bigger problem. Certain foods and bad habits can increase your risk of halitosis, but there are methods for treating bad breath, which will be explained later.
What causes halitosis?
Bad breath can be either occasional or chronic, and is intensified by the following factors:
- Poor oral health. Brushing and flossing twice a day is essential to cleaning food particles, sugars, and plaque off of your teeth. When these particles stay in your mouth, they create their own odor and lead to plaque and tartar buildup, which will eventually cause gum disease and periodontitis if left untreated.
- Certain medications, especially medicine that treats allergies like a nasal drip.
- Illness such as the flu or a cold, which cause mouth dryness.
- Pregnancy itself won’t cause bad breath, but pregnant women often experience morning sickness. Their hormones are changing, too, which could cause dehydration and mouth dryness.
- Dentures and braces that make it difficult to clean food particles from your teeth
How to treat halitosis
Halitosis is easily treatable by making changes to your daily habits and oral hygiene routine. By brushing your teeth and flossing twice a day, you will do a great amount to reduce the chance of bad breath. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps, too.
Experts recommend that you drink eight 8-ounce glasses throughout the day (the 8×8 rule), which equals about half a gallon. But in reality, you should be drinking more, especially if you are an athlete or work outdoors. If you are a smoker, this could be contributing to your bad breath. Try quitting or talk to your doctor about alternatives. Lastly, visit your dentist twice a year for checkups. They can offer advice about how to treat bad breath.
Schedule a Dental Cleaning Today
Halitosis is easily treatable when you make a routine visit to your dentist. Make an appointment with the team at Babylon Dental Care to check up on your dental health today. Call us at (631) 983-6665 or reach out online to schedule your appointment today.
