You may think that your bad breath is a result of your morning cup of coffee or the salad with onions, but bad breath can be a sign that something is wrong with your body or mouth. You can expect to have to address your bad breath from time to time, but if you have persistent bad breath, then it may be time to make an appointment with the dentist. You may need more professional attention to your mouth than what you can do at home with a toothbrush and dental floss.
Making an appointment with the dentist for an examination can help determine if the source of your bad breath is from an oral condition or gum disease. When you have periodontitis, your gums are suffering from an infection of bacteria and are experiencing inflammation. The gums separate from the teeth and create pockets where bacteria can live. Those pockets cannot able to be cleaned at home with your toothbrush; you need to have a professional cleaning to remove them. Untreated gum disease will not only leave you with bad breath, but it can also cause your gums to recede from your teeth, loosening them, weakening them, and even causing tooth loss. In its early stages, gum disease will not cause you pain or discomfort, but you may notice persistent halitosis. Regular dental appointments will help prevent gum disease from causing you bigger issues.
When you have bad breath that does not seem to go away after you brush your teeth, then you need to consider how dry your mouth is on a regular basis. The saliva in your mouth helps keep the bacteria from accumulating, but without enough saliva, odor-causing bacteria can increase in number. Dry mouth can come from mouth breathing, certain medications, changes in hormones, autoimmune diseases, alcohol based mouth washes, and even diabetes.
Infections and digestive problems can leave you with bad breath. Sinus drainage increases the amount of mucus and opportunities for bacteria to grow. Breakdown of proteins in your mucus can cause odor. If you experience acid reflux, the sour smell of the stomach acid and partially digested food can leave you with halitosis. Diabetes can cause a sweet-smelling breath when it is not controlled properly. Kidney and liver malfunctions can leave your body without proper filtration, and you will have bad breath as a result. These substances and their lingering smell can’t be removed by brushing alone, so you may need to make an appointment with your doctor for a more complete evaluation.
If you are self-conscious of your bad breath and it does not improve after you brush and floss regularly, then it is time to make an appointment with a dentist to determine what is causing it. Addressing it can leave you in a healthier condition than before, and you will be able to bring confidence into your daily life.
If you have more questions about bad breath or how addressing it could help you achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see your treatment options for bad breath.