5 Questions To Ask About Bad Breath

Thousands of Americans suffer halitosis more commonly known as bad breath. Sadly, it can affect your social life, work life, and much more, so its important you take steps to fix it so you can avoid embarrassing situations down the road.

What is halitosis? What are the best ways to fix it? All of these questions and more are answered below.

What causes bad breath?
There are a variety of things that can cause bad breath the most common are bacterial infections, certain medications, and poor hygiene (i.e. not brushing or flossing your teeth frequently enough.) In most situations, bad breath comes from bacteria left on the tongue and gums. Other possible causes include:

Certain foods Foods like garlic and onion not only leave the odor in your mouth, but theyre also absorbed into the blood stream and expelled from the lungs. Until theyre completely eliminated from the body, things like gum, mouthwash, and toothpaste will only mask the odor.
Dry mouth Certain medications like antihistamines and antidepressants can cause dry mouth, which in turn causes bad breath. It can also result from liver or kidney issues, diabetes, localized infections, and more.
Tobacco products If you smoke or chew tobacco, youre much more likely to have bad breath.
Post-nasal drip This is the fluid that streams down the back of your throat when you have a cold, sinus infection, or allergies. Tiny food pieces can lodge in the back of throat or on the tongue and cause a bad odor.

How do I tell if I have bad breath?
Its a common myth that you can blow into your hand and smell your breath to see if it has a bad odor. Instead, you can lick the back of your hand, let it dry, and then smell to get a true feeling of your breath.

How can I control bad breath?
Luckily, there are many ways you can help control the problem. First, make sure you brush and floss at least twice a day; even better do it after every meal. When brushing, make sure you get all parts of your mouth, not just your teeth. Brush your cheeks, tongue, and the roof of your mouth as well. By flossing, you can remove the bacteria and food particles that often get stuck between teeth. Some dentists even recommend a tongue scraper, a plastic tool that scrapes away the bacteria that builds up on the tongue.

Here are a few other tips:

Clean your retainer Make sure to clean your retainer every time you brush your teeth. If you have braces, spend a few more minutes to make sure youre hitting all the small nooks and crannies where food could get stuck.
Use mouthwash Using anti-bacterial mouthwash is another great way to kill the bacteria that causes bad breath.
Buy sugar-free gum Chewing this often helps stimulate saliva, which cleanses the teeth and gums and prevents dry mouth.

If youve tried all of the above tips, it may help to schedule an appointment with your dentist to figure out the root cause and the best ways to fix it.

What can I expect during my dentist appointment?
When you visit a dentist to help with halitosis, he or she will ask you questions about your medical history, including things like:

How often do you brush and floss your teeth each day?
When did you first begin to experience bad breath?
What kinds of food to you eat?
Do you have allergies or sinus problems?
Is your bad breath continuous or occasional?

Then, the dentist will evaluate your breath and determine how bad the odor is. Sometimes, this is done through scraping the back of the tongue with a plastic device, since this is often the source of the smell.

Before your appointment, you should abstain from drinking, eating, chewing gum, or brushing your teeth for at least three hours. You should also try to avoid scented lotions, lipsticks, perfumes, and other things that could mask any odors.

How is bad breath treated?
The treatment for bad breath depends on the patient and the cause. If the dentist determines that its caused by a health condition, he or she will be able to recommend ways for you to get control of the condition. Other remedies include a specialty mouth rinse or toothpaste.

In a worst-case scenario, your dentist may determine you have gum disease. The condition causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, giving even more space for odor-causing bacteria to accumulate. If your dentist believes you have gum disease, he or she will refer you to a periodontist who can better treat the issue.