Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is more than just unpleasant and embarrassing — it can be a sign of more serious health conditions that can impact your overall health. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the causes of bad breath, along with treatment options we offer here at Middletown Commons Family Dentistry to combat bad breath and improve your oral health.

Symptoms of Bad Breath

You might think the symptoms of bad breath are obvious — but there are other signs to look out for in order to properly identify the root cause of your halitosis. For some, bad breath comes along with discolored or decaying teeth, a yellow coating on your tongue, swollen or bleeding gums, dry mouth, and sore throat.

Causes of Bad Breath

There are many reasons why you might be experiencing bad breath. Here are some of the most common causes of bad breath:

• Lack of oral hygiene

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth consistently twice a day, bacteria and plaque will proliferate on your teeth and under the gumline, causing cavities, decay, and bad breath.

• Diet

A diet high in acidic and sugary foods will increase bacteria production on your teeth and around your gums. Moreover, if you consume onion, garlic, and certain spices, you may experience bad breath.

• Tobacco products

Smoking or using other tobacco products can cause your breath to have an undesirable odor. Tobacco also increases your likelihood of developing gum disease.

• Dry mouth

You can develop dry mouth for a variety of reasons. When you have dry mouth, you are not producing enough saliva to wash away bacteria from the surface of your teeth, giving you bad breath as a result.

• Infections

Infections in your mouth or throat, like tonsil stones, can affect the odor of your breath.

• Medications

Certain medications can cause dry mouth, and therefore bad breath.

Treatment for Bad Breath

You might be tempted to use breath-freshening products like mouthwashes or sugar-free gums to enhance the odor of your breath, but the best way to eliminate bad breath for good is to determine the root cause of the issue with your dentist. At Middletown Commons Family Dentistry, we work with individual patients to develop custom treatment plans to improve their oral and overall health.

Perhaps all you need is a dental cleaning. Or, you might benefit from having a refresher on the proper brushing and flossing technique. Maybe you need to make shifts in your diet and daily habits to improve your breath. You might have an underlying infection that needs a special treatment. Whatever the cause, we’ll work with you to get you smiling and healthy again!

Comprehensive Dentistry in Louisville, KY

Middletown Commons Family Dentistry offers a variety of treatment options to target the root cause of bad breath and other dental maladies. We also accommodate dental emergencies! We pride ourselves on catering to patients of all needs and backgrounds, and offer a variety of financing plans to make our services widely available to those who need it. Call us or book an appointment by clicking the contact link!