Living with bad breath also known as halitosis isn’t just frustrating, it’s embarrassing and inconvenient. Millions of people suffer from halitosis and don’t fully grasp why it occurs and what to do if they have it. Occasional bad breath from dietary choices, dry mouth, or skipping out on your dental hygiene routine can be normal. Persistent halitosis despite best efforts can be indicative of an underlying dental condition that requires intervention from your local dentist. Dentists play a crucial role in identifying the causes of bad breath and creating a personalized treatment plan. Join us as we explore insights from our Spath Dentistry team on the causes of bad breath and effective treatment strategies.
Identifying the Causes of Bad Breath:
Our Newport Beach dentists are trained to recognize the various factors that can contribute to bad breath. During your dental examination, our dentists will assess your oral health and assess for the following potential causes:
- Poor Oral Hygiene: One of the most common causes of bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene. It’s important to remember to brush twice daily and floss once to remove food from between your teeth and reduce plaque buildup. Poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and malodorous breath.
- Gum Disease: Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a bacterial infection of the gums. This is associated with red, irritated, swollen gums and loose or shifting teeth. Gum disease has a distinct odor that can be detected by your dentist in Newport Beach especially when accompanied by physical symptoms.
- Dry Mouth: Reduced saliva production can lead to dry mouth making your mouth hospitable for bacteria to thrive and contribute to bad breath. To combat bacteria stay hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Dietary Factors: Certain foods and beverages like garlic and coffee can leave behind strong odors that contribute to bad breath. Prevent these lingering odors by limiting odorous foods and beverages or try chewing on mint or parsley to neutralize the odors.
- Underlying Dental Issues: Dental issues like tooth decay, oral infections, and poorly fitting dental appliances can contribute to bad breath. During a thorough dental exam examination our dentists can identify any underlying dental issues and recommend comprehensive treatment options.
Effective Treatment Strategies:
Conquering bad breath can be done independently at home through proper oral hygiene, staying hydrated, and more. If your bad breath persists despite your best efforts it’s time to seek dental help from Spath Dentistry in Newport Beach, California.
- Improving Oral Hygiene: Improving your oral hygiene routine and incorporating new techniques like a water flosser or mouthwash can transform your dental health and help eliminate bad breath.
- Treating Gum Disease: If you’re experiencing gum disease, your local dentist can perform professional dental cleanings and recommend periodontal therapy to remove plaque and tartar buildup and restore gum health.
- Addressing Dry Mouth: It’s important to get to the root of your dry mouth issues whether it’s due to low salivary production or something more serious like diabetes. Once you’ve narrowed down the cause you can improve saliva production through drinking copious amounts of water, appropriate medication, and, other suggestions depending on the severity and cause.
- Managing Dietary Factors: Being intentional with your diet and opting for foods and drinks that aren’t packed with strong odors can help you manage your bad breath and reduce it. If you’re opting for food like onions, garlic, and coffee bring sugar-free gum or mints to freshen your breath afterwards.
- Addressing Underlying Dental Issues: Seeing your Newport Beach, California dentist regularly allows us to detect dental issues early on, treat them, and prevent future dental issues from arising. Being proactive with your dental health can reduce and even eliminate bad breath.
Attending regular dental exams at Spath Dentistry is essential to having optimal oral health. Regular dental exams allow our Orange County dentists to identify the causes of bad breath, create an effective treatment plan, and prevent further dental issues and ordor from occurring. Enjoy improved oral health and get rid of bad breath through improving your oral hygiene, increasing your saliva production, and addressing any underlying dental issues with your local Newport Beach dentist. Reclaim your smile and quality of life when you schedule an appointment with us at Spath Dentistry for a thorough evaluation and customized treatment plan. Not local but want the same quality dentistry that we provide? Not to worry, enjoy our complimentary consultation, and get quality dentistry from the comfort of your home.
