Bad breath, medically termed halitosis, can be awkward and may even lead to anxiety. Some foods, health conditions, and unhealthy lifestyle practices are among the causes of bad breath.

Causes

Food. The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can raise bacteria and result in a foul odor. Consuming foods, like onions, garlic, and spices even can cause bad breath. After you digest these foods, they get inside your bloodstream and are carried to your lungs. This can affect your breath.
Tobacco products. Smoking of course has its own displeasing mouth odor. Smokers and oral tobacco users are more prone to have gum disease- another source of bad breath.
Poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush, food particles stay in your mouth, causing bad breath. A colorless, sticky film of bacteria (plaque) builds on your teeth. Plaque can irritate your gums and ultimately advance to form periodontitis (severe gum disease). Persistent bad breath can be a sign of Periodontitis. Your tongue can even trap bacteria that generate odors. Dentures that aren’t cleaned properly or don’t fit accurately can harbor odor-producing bacteria and food particles.
Dry mouth. Saliva moistens your mouth and washes away particles. A dry mouth can cause bad breath since the production of saliva is reduced. Chronic dry mouth can be caused by an issue with your salivary glands and certain diseases.
Medications. Certain medications can indirectly generate bad breath by contributing to dry mouth. While others can be broken down in the body to produce chemicals that can be carried on your breath.
Infections in your mouth. Surgical wounds can also cause bad breath. These are wounds caused after oral surgery, or the result of tooth caries, gum problems, or mouth sores.
Crash diets: Fasting and low-carbohydrate consuming routines can produce bad breath. This is due to the breakdown of fats generating chemicals known as ketones. These ketones have a powerful aroma.
Other mouth, nose, and throat conditions. Bad breath can sometimes emerge from small stones that build in the tonsils. They are usually covered with bacteria that generate odor. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat, can contribute to bad breath.
Other causes. Diseases, like certain cancers, liver failure, and conditions like metabolic disorders, can result in particular breath odor. This is due to the chemicals they release. Bad breath in kids can be caused by a foreign body, like a piece of food, stuck in a nostril.

How Bad Breath is treated?

In maximum cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. Your dentist will perform an oral exam and Dental Cleaning might be done. If the odor is caused by gum disease, your dentist can either treat or refer you to a Periodontist.

Now, if you’re surfing your web for the best ‘Dentist near me’ in TX, to treat your bad breath, then surely visit our office at Dental Artistry!

What Can I Do to Prevent Bad Breath?

Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. And clean the tongue, too.
Change your toothbrush every 2-3 months.
Floss once daily.
Use an antibacterial mouthwash.
Dentures should be cleaned thoroughly before being placed the next day.
Quit smoking and chewing tobacco-based items.
Stay hydrated. You can also go for sugar-free chewing-gums.
Visit your dentist regularly — at least twice a year.