What are some of the causes? What can be done to correct the situation? I have come up with four of the more common causes for bad bad breath we have come across while practicing.
1. Food
When food stays in the mouth for an extended period it starts to coat our teeth, gums, and tongue.
This coating of our oral tissues gives the bacteria in our mouths time to break down the food that gives off a nasty smell. The easiest solution is good oral hygiene consisting of daily brushing and flossing. Also don’t forget to brush your tongue.
2. Tooth Decay (Cavities)
Bacteria is everywhere in our bodies, including our mouths. Bacteria are the culprits for tooth decay. While bacteria are decaying our teeth it releases a putrid smell. A solution for a cavity is either a filling, a crown, or a root canal; depending on the severity of the decay.
3. Gum Disease (Periodontitis)
When our gums are really infected, bad breath is also present. The source of the bad breath…bacteria. The solution for this problem is either a normal dental cleaning or a deep cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing).
4. Smoking
With smoking there are many different toxins inhaled including nicotine and tar. The ultimate solution, of course, would be to stop smoking. If quitting is not a possibility, to help mitigate the bad breath one can use a mouthwash, brush his or her teeth, and/or a combination of both.
While practicing, we have come across a company that manufactures a mouthwash, a toothpaste, and a mouth spray that currently masks bad breath better than any other product on the market. The company is called the Dental Herb Company.
I love their products and use them every day. If you want to buy their stuff, you have to jump through some hoops. But trust me, it is worth it.
You can order from them online but if it’s too much trouble, we can sell their products to you. But directly from the factory is a better deal.
If you have any questions we would be glad to help. This is a little secret that only dentists know about and we hope this information is useful.