There is nothing like bad breath to make a bad first impression. Although it’s definitely unwelcome, halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, is fairly common, and nearly everyone experiences it. However, just because it’s normal doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it. Whether it’s morning breath or unexplained bad breath that won’t even go away after brushing, there’s a fix for it. But before you can fix your bad breath, you have to figure out what’s causing it.
At Dental Depot of Arizona, we prioritize providing practical, high-quality dental care designed to meet your family’s unique needs. From routine cleanings and preventive services to personalized treatment plans, our team is here to guide you at every stage of your oral health journey. We go beyond in-office visits by helping you build strong at-home hygiene habits and support you in choosing the best products to keep your smile healthy between appointments. Whether you’re looking for tips to combat halitosis, or require more specialized treatments, we make maintaining your family’s oral health easy, affordable, and effective.
Generally speaking, halitosis is the result of bacteria growing in your mouth that releases sulfur compounds and produces an odor. There are a variety of factors that cause bad breath, however, such as dentures, gum disease, broader health conditions, and more. Here are some of the most common culprits of halitosis.
Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth can trap plaque, food, or other debris in the gums around them, causing cavities and bad breath. They can also irritate your sinuses, causing drainage, blockages, and sinus infections that cause your breath to smell bad. You may also experience bad breath after your wisdom teeth are extracted, as your mouth and gums progress through the healing process.
Gum disease can develop as a result of poor oral hygiene, especially if you aren’t flossing. Bacteria will latch onto the proteins and food particles stuck in between your teeth and release sulfur or gas, which causes bad breath.
To stop your dentures from smelling, you need to clean them every day with a denture brush. You also need to soak them every night in a cleaning solution to get rid of bacteria buildup. Finally, be sure to rinse after every meal.
… caused by a decrease in saliva production while you sleep. Saliva is responsible for flushing odors and bacteria from the mouth, so without it, food particles and bacteria hang out overnight. Doing a regular floss and brush should prevent this, but if your morning persists, you may be dealing with dry mouth. This is actually a condition in which your saliva glands don’t produce enough saliva, and in turn, the bacteria can’t be washed down normally.
Food particles, bacteria, and dead cells can become trapped on the tonsils and begin to decompose, causing bad breath, or the mucus membranes of the tonsils can become inflamed in a condition called tonsillitis, producing a bad smell.
If your breath smells bad even after brushing and flossing your teeth, you may have bacteria and decay hiding out.
… such as strep throat, can also cause bad breath.
… by leaving chemical compounds in your mouth and lungs. The fumes from cigarette smoke also produce a stale smell.
… cause side effects like reduced saliva production and dry mouth, both of which can contribute to halitosis.
… like certain cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, seasonal allergies, and many more may be responsible for bad breath, a result of reduced saliva production, chemical reactions, and medications.
No matter what the reason for your bad breath, you just want it to go away. Here are some general recommendations for addressing your halitosis. Remember that even implementing just one can make a big difference, but a combination of several methods is the best approach to keeping bad breath at bay.
Mouthwash like Listerine can be an easy and affordable solution to fixing your bad breath. However, occasional use may not make the significant impact you’re hoping for.
First of all, many types of mouthwash are a temporary solution to addressing plaque build up in your mouth, so they need to be used frequently and regularly to be the most effective. Second, some may just be more of a mouth rinse as opposed to something that actually gets rid of the odor-causing plaque and bacteria.
When you buy Listerine or mouthwash, it should have two major properties:
For best results, use mouthwash once in the morning and once in the evening, every day.
Even the best brushing won’t get all the plaque and tartar off your teeth; you’ll need a professional cleaning. If you’ve been noticing bad breath even after brushing, it might be time to schedule your biannual checkup and cleaning, when a dental hygienist uses special tools to scrape off the plaque and tartar buildup from around your gums and in between your teeth.
If your dentist notices severe plaque buildup, inflamed gums, or other signs of early gum disease, he or she may recommend that you get a dental deep cleaning. A dental deep cleaning is different from a routine cleaning, and is one of the first measures for treating gum disease.
As gingivitis and gum disease progress, the gums start to pull away from the teeth, producing pockets for food and bacteria to accumulate and cause decay and infection (and bad breath). A deep cleaning uses scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar from deep under the gum line and smooth the surface of your teeth so the gums can reattach and remain healthy.
Plaque is one of the biggest contributors to bad breath. Plaque is a sticky substance that builds up on and between your teeth, and gives bacteria and food particles a great place to stick. Flossing helps eliminate the build-up and can help combat gum disease.
The ADA recommends flossing after every meal to immediately remove any food that might be left behind, but if you can’t floss that often, at least try to shoot for once or twice a day.
Other ways to prevent bad breath include:
If you’ve tried everything and your bad breath persists, you may need treatment for gum disease, or you may have a larger health concern or condition that requires medical treatment. Be sure to speak to your dentist or doctor.
Bad breath is bad news, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. If you are concerned about your bad breath, schedule a consultation with the Dental Depot of Arizona location nearest you. We’re proud to offer comprehensive dental care for everyone in your family, including routine cleanings, restorative treatment, and dental deep cleanings to help treat bad breath. At Dental Depot of Arizona, we understand that bad breath happens to the best of us, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. No matter what’s causing your bad breath, you’ll be treated with the compassion and respect you deserve. Don’t spend another day worrying about what’s happening in your mouth –schedule an appointment today!
