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When you wake up in the morning and try to kiss your significant-other, is their first reaction to turn away? Do you obsessively check your breath before meetings or obsessively pop breath mints? According to a recent study, nearly 50 percent of all adults in America are embarrassed by their bad breath, or bad breath they’ve had in the past. It’s not difficult to see why. Like accidentally leaving your zipper down or having your dress awkwardly bunch in the back, bad breath, or halitosis, is one of those embarrassing things that we might only realize after someone points it out.
If you’ve recently discovered that you have bad breath, or, worse, someone has told you, here are four reasons it may be happening.
Dry Mouth
Saliva has a lot of important functions within the mouth. From regulating bacteria, flushing food particles, to helping food pre-digest before it reaches the stomach, we often don’t notice how important saliva is until it’s gone. Known as xerostomia, dry mouth caused by certain medications, nerve damage or other conditions, can leave your mouth vulnerable to cavities and infection. If you’ve noticed recently that your mouth is drier than normal, the first step is to drink more water. If you continue to experience dry mouth, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Smoking
Not only can smoking be bad for your body, it can be bad for your mouth, as well. Smoking is a two-folder odder causer. Not only can the smell persist in your mouth for hours, especially if you’re smoking menthols, it can also dry out your mouth. If you’re set on fixing your breath, then perhaps the first place to start is by giving up cigarettes. More so, if you want your smile to remain shiny and beautiful, as cigarettes can cause major stains.
Don’t Forget to Brush Your Tongue
Your teeth aren’t the only thing that needs brushing. In fact, almost 90 percent of all bad breath is caused by bacteria found on the tongue. Using devices such as tongue scrapers can be helpful, but chances are simply adding tongue brushing to your routine will be enough to wash leftover food particles from that area.
Gum Disease
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease starts as low-grade inflammation in gum tissue surrounding the teeth that will eventually develop into full blown infection. Among the symptoms, persistent bad breath usually accompanied by a bad taste is at the top. If you’ve been experiencing bad breath with gums that bleed after brushing and flossing, loose teeth, or red, puffy-looking gums, then you should schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately.
Not only can bad breath caused by gum disease affect your social relationships, it can affect your body, as well. Advanced gum disease can lead to tooth loss and other, more serious conditions, such as an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer.
If you’ve been dealing with bad breath for a while and are at a loss as to how to deal with it, then seeing your dentist may help. Give us a call at (907) 349-0022 or contact us and come see why everyone is raving about the hygiene team at Excellence In Dentistry in Anchorage, Alaska!
