You’ve probably seen or performed the polite test for bad breath. Cupping your hand in front of your face, you blow air from deep in the back of your throat. The bounce back of expelled molecules tells the story. Was it pasta sauce loaded with garlic, a salad full of raw onions or the spiciest curry on the planet? Maybe it was the cigarette or cigar smoking? Perhaps it was forgetting to brush and floss, recently or for many, many days. Whatever the cause, are you, and those around you, experiencing bad breath?
Causes of Bad Breath
First let’s discuss what causes bad breath, and what can be done about it. The cause that is the easiest to resolve is food-related. The effects of eating raw onions, garlic, scallions and the like will linger for hours – long after your meal is consumed. Going for hours without brushing your teeth also leads to halitosis and is the cause of what many call “morning breath.” Simply put, brushing your teeth disturbs and kills the bacteria that cause bad breath and tooth decay. Knock down their numbers on a regular basis and you destroy a major cause of bad smells.
A good routine of brushing, flossing and using approved dental rinses will take care of ordinary bouts of bad breath. Remember to brush at least twice a day, if not more. Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste handy at work for after meals and before client and staff meetings. Your whole mouth will be healthier and your friends, family and coworkers will be smiling too.
When Ordinary Treatments Don’t Work
What if, despite your best efforts at dental care, with brushing, flossing, mints, sprays, gum and mouthwash, you still knock people to the floor with your breath? If this is happening, it is time to see a dentist. Yes, it could be the food if you are munching whole garlic cloves, but likely it is a matter that needs attention from our Placerville dental professionals. An oral examination will determine if you are dealing with poor oral hygiene, gum disease, dry mouth, an infection of the throat or sinuses or even an abscess. Once these underlying causes are corrected, your battle of the breath will be won.
Keeping your general health in good condition can also improve your breath. Eating healthy, staying away from smoking and excessive alcohol, exercising regularly, practicing tongue brushing and even using nasal rinses can help combat halitosis. If you are doing all of these things and your breath gets better, go out to celebrate with friends. Just don’t forget to check your breath!
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