Have you ever been in a crowded room and been concerned that people near you might be able to smell your bad breath? Or perhaps you have been in a meeting or on a date and are self-conscious that your breath isn’t as fresh as it should be? Maybe your breath even stops you from doing some of the things you’d normally want to do, like going in for that first kiss, hugging friends and family, and generally getting close to others. We’ve all been there before, but if your bad breath is regularly causing you (and others) discomfort, then it’s important to know what’s causing it and what you can do to stop bad breath.
Halitosis (Bad Breath) and Oral Hygiene
One of the most common causes of bad breath is poor oral hygiene, and that includes not brushing and flossing regularly. As such, one of the best defenses against bad breath is practicing proper dental hygiene consistently, and that includes:
Related Article: The Importance of a 6-month Dental Appointment at Premier Dental
Preventative dental care is an important step in keeping your teeth healthy. You should also schedule regular check-ups with Dr. Caye at Premier Dental in Lee’s Summit, and talk to him about treatments for potential decay, cavities, gum disease, and other issues that may be contributing to your bad breath.
Related Article: Dr. Stephan Caye, DDS: Your Local Dentist in Lee’s Summit, MO
The Relationship between What You Put in Your Mouth and Your Breath
There are plenty of foods that can give you bad breath, such as spices and aromatics (like onion and garlic), and if you eat these foods regularly, then you may have to contend with bad breath more often than most people. Eating high-sugar foods can similarly cause bad breath, as can crash diets, low-carbohydrate diets, coffee, alcohol, and smoking tobacco products. To stop bad breath caused by diet and lifestyle, focus on eating a healthy and balanced diet, avoid spicy foods, reduce your caffeine, sugar, and alcohol consumption, and try to quit smoking.
Health Conditions, Medications, and Bad Breath
If you’ve always had good oral hygiene and don’t think diet is causing your bad breath, it’s possible that a medical condition or medication is causing your halitosis. For instance, dry mouth can cause bad breath because saliva helps to keep your mouth clean. Similarly, gastroesophageal reflux disease, metabolic disorders, infections in the mouth, tonsil stones, and even some cancers can also create bad breath. When you suspect that a medication or medical condition is causing your halitosis, it’s always best to talk to your dentist and doctor about potential solutions.
Bad breath is never fun to deal with, especially if you’re constantly combating stinky breath or your breath is a source of anxiety for you. But the good news is there are common causes for bad breath, and by identifying the source, you can take steps to reduce it or schedule an appointment with Dr. Caye to discuss potential health conditions or medications that may be exacerbating your halitosis so you can stop bad breath.
Dr. Stephan Caye and his friendly, experienced team at Premier Dental offer affordable family dentistry and oral health education to their patients in the Lee’s Summit, MO area. Our office is conveniently located off of Highway 50 and SE Blue Parkway. We offer appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At Premier Dental, we provide most dental health services, from family and general dentistry to specialty procedures, including tooth replacement options, including CEREC crowns, dental implants and dentures, endodontic or root canal treatment, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, emergency dental care and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Please call us at (816) 600-6330 to schedule an appointment.
