You can’t help but remember the awkward feeling of having a conversation with someone that has bad breath. All you wanted to do was take a step back to avoid it, but you didn’t want to be rude. What if you were the one with bad breath though? Chronic bad breath affects about 25% of people, so it’s not as uncommon as you’d imagine. Continue reading so your dentist in Friendship Heights can help you get rid of your bad breath.
Should I be Worried About Bad Breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis, typically happens when food particles and dead cells that are left in your mouth to create a bacteria breeding ground. When they aren’t being brushed away, they break down and produce sulfur compounds, causing a stinky odor.
Bad breath can affect you in more ways than you think. Whether it’s in a social or professional setting, you don’t want to have to try and have a conversation with someone that can’t wait to move away from you. It’s awkward and can have an impact on your self-confidence. So why put yourself through that when you could try to avoid it?
What Causes Bad Breath?
There can be many causes for bad breath, some include:
- Dry mouth—is when you don’t produce the proper amount of saliva. It can help rinse harmful bacteria, sugars, and food debris out of your mouth to keep it from breaking down and causing a foul smell.
- Poor dental hygiene—a bad oral hygiene routine is the most common cause for stinky breath because it can result in plaque and tartar buildup.
- Gum disease—this can be a common reason for bad breath and is also typically a result of poor oral health.
How Can I Prevent Bad Breath?
Here are some tips that can help you tackle bad breath:
- Establish a schedule for flossing and brushing to effectively remove food and bacteria trapped in your mouth. By brushing twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash regularly, you should be able to remove a large portion of the odor-causing gunk from your teeth and tongue.
- Thoroughly cleaning your tongue is vital to removing harmful foul-smelling bacteria from your mouth. You can either use your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to effectively do this.
- Drinking plenty of water helps your mouth produce more saliva and rinse away food, dead cells, and bacteria.
- If you regularly eat foods like garlic and onions, these could be causing your bad breath. Besides those, it’s a good idea to be wary of high protein and low carb diets because they signal your body to burn fat instead of sugar, causing bad breath. As your body breaks down excessive amounts of protein, it produces ammonia which can be released from your body through breathing.
You don’t have to endure embarrassing moments anymore. Don’t be the reason that people hesitantly move away from you. Instead, keep up with your oral hygiene and ask your dentist what may be the cause of your bad breath.
About the Author
Dr. Yelena Obholz strives to provide her patients with the most up-to-date dental care by continuing her dental education classes. She is passionate about getting to know her patients and watching them walk out her doors happy and flashing their smiles. For questions about bad breath or to schedule an appointment for your checkup, visit her website or contact her at 202-759-7431.