What Even Causes Bad Breath?
So, we know bad breath is a problem for a lot of people, but why? Here are a few of the reasons why you, your friend, or your weird uncle who always kisses you on the lips at family gatherings might have bad breath:
- The food you’re eating – I’m sure you realize that the garlic you had in your dinner, while good for your immune system, doesn’t do wonders for your breath. What you might not know is that simply popping a breath mint after devouring that spaghetti and garlic bread won’t freshen your breath like you think it will. While your mouth might taste minty fresh, the food you just ate will still affect your breath! So, think twice before eating that extra bowl of French onion soup, because the effects on your breath won’t wear off until you brush and clean your mouth thoroughly.
- Poor dental hygiene – This is a bit of a no-brainer, but it still needs to be said. If you don’t regularly and thoroughly clean your teeth, you will have bad breath. Without proper upkeep, food particles will cause plaque to form on your teeth. If this plaque is left on your teeth for an extended period, it can irritate your gums, eventually forming plaque-filled pockets in between your teeth and gums, known as periodontitis. The same goes for dentures; if they aren’t cleaned properly or don’t fit right, they can build up bacteria that will cause your breath to stink.
- Dry mouth – This is probably the most prevalent cause of bad breath. Have you ever wondered why your breath smells so bad in the morning or after waking up from a nap? It’s not because your body’s bacteria-production factory is in full swing when your eyes are closed, but because your defenses are down. Saliva cleans the mouth and rids it of harmful bacteria. Dry mouth reduces saliva, weakening your mouth’s ability to rid itself of bacteria. When you sleep, dry mouth naturally occurs, hence the deathly taste on your tongue first thing in the morning.
- Mouth infections – Bad breath can sometimes result from wounds after oral surgeries, such as tooth removal, dental implants, etc. It can also result from gum disease, tooth decay, or mouth sores. This just goes to show that, as mentioned above, you need to be conscious of your dental health, especially after a surgery. If you aren’t careful, bad breath will be the least of your worries.
- Too much outdoor exercise – I know what you’re thinking, isn’t exercise supposed to be good for you? The short answer is yes, but that’s not the full story. Studies have shown that athletes are more likely to have breathing problems than the average person, with cyclists being most affected. These breathing problems contribute to dry mouth, which, as mentioned above, contributes to bad breath. The main problem is not the exercise, but the outdoor environment itself. Taking in too much cold air in the winter can cause or worsen dry mouth, and in the warmer months, pollen and pollution contributes to allergies. In the end, the result is worsened breath due to allergies, nasal drainage, or chronic dry mouth. So, if you’re thinking about taking a nice bike ride under the pollen-soaked oaks in your neighborhood or braving the slippery ice to take a run outside in the brisk winter, maybe think twice and visit your local indoor gym instead.
- Mouthwash – “But mouthwash is supposed to be good for oral hygiene!” you scream at your computer. I know, right? And to an extent, it is, but you need to be careful about which kinds you’re using. Mouthwashes that are alcohol-based tend to dry out your mouth, causing or worsening the dry mouth that contributes to bad breath. So, if you’ve been guzzling mouthwash to no avail, wondering what the heck you need to do to make your breath smell good, take a look at the ingredients in your mouthwash. By trying to fix your breath problem, you could be inadvertently making it worse.
- Tobacco products – Once again, this is a bit of a no-brainer. For years, we’ve known how bad tobacco products are for the human body, and that doesn’t stop at oral health. In fact, due to the entry point for many tobacco products (chew tobacco in the lip, cigarettes breathed in through the mouth, etc.), using tobacco products is basically like leading an assault on your mouth, and in turn, your breath!
- Breath mints – I know, just like with the mouthwash, you thought you were doing a good thing for your breath with those mints. Unfortunately, that is not entirely true. While your bad breath may be masked when your mint is in your mouth, this is merely a temporary fix to an omnipresent problem. In some ways, you’re probably making the issue even worse. The sugar in regular breath mints can act to worsen your breath by facilitating the production of bacteria. So, the next time you’re in the check-out line at the grocery store and you reach for those sugary mints, maybe think twice. Instead, try to find a breath mind that is sugar free and contains xylitol and/or magnolia tree bark, which are proven to kill harmful bacteria.
- Various illnesses – Mouth, nose and throat conditions can have an impact on your breath. When you get tonsillitis, for instance, the same bacteria that causes bad breath coats your tonsils, causing your breath to get stinky. Thankfully, a tonsillectomy can help to treat this frustrating infection, and in turn, stifle its effects on your breath. Additionally, some cancers and metabolic disorders are known to produce chemicals that can cause an odor in your breath, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is often linked to bad breath. There is also a link between heart disease and gum disease. Gingivitis, which can cause your breath to smell, is an early sign that you might be suffering from cardiovascular problems. There are also cues in the way your breath smells to signal what issues you might be suffering from. For instance, a fruity smell in your breath might indicate uncontrolled diabetes, and a fishy smell might point to kidney disease. So, if your bad breath just won’t go away, it might be best to visit your local doctor to make sure your breath isn’t a sign of other potential problems.
How to Fix Bad Breath
Here it is, what you’ve been waiting for. I know the reasons behind stinky breath can be tedious, but they are important to understanding what you need to do to make it better. Here are some things you can do to make sure your mouth stays smelling squeaky clean:
- Practice good oral hygiene – I’ll say it one more time for the people in the back. Practice. Good. Oral. Hygiene. This is the most important skill to harness if you want a pleasant-smelling mouth. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Brush after you eat if you can. Brush your tongue and clean it with a tongue scraper or spoon each morning. This will decrease the bacteria, dead cells, and fungi that gang up on your tongue to cause bad odor. Floss or use interdental cleaner once a day, and rinse with non-alcohol-based mouthwash twice a day. Be sure to replace your toothbrush every two to three months or after an illness. If you have dentures, they should be removed each night, and you should clean them thoroughly before popping them back in the morning.
- Drink lots of water – Water is a double threat – in a good way. In addition to cleaning bacteria out of your mouth as you drink it, water moistens your mouth, helping your saliva to continue ridding your mouth of harmful bacteria. Plus, water is great for keeping the rest of your body healthy. Some other things you can do to stimulate saliva production are chewing sugar-free gum and eating sugar-free candy. By increasing saliva production, you help to wash away the food particles and harmful bacteria that stink up your breath.
- See your dentist regularly – Visits to your dentist are important to maintaining your dental health, and in turn, your breath. You should visit your dentist, at the very least, twice a year. At your appointments, you will be treated to a professional teeth cleaning and oral exam, in which your dentist will be able to detect any potential problems that could make your breath smell.
- Stop using tobacco products – If you won’t do it for yourself, at least do it for the people who have to smell your breath. As mentioned above, smoking is terrible for your body, and especially harmful to your teeth and gums. That being said, I know that quitting is easier said than done, so here are some tips to kickstart your journey into quitting tobacco.
- Avoid processed foods – I know, it’s hard. Cookies, cakes, ice cream, it’s all so good. While it may feel good in the moment to indulge in a sugary, processed treat, it isn’t good for you – or your breath – in the long run. While you can still enjoy the occasional cheat day, try to stick to foods that are healthy and full of fiber, which will help to prevent bad breath.
- Drink black and green teas – If you are already a tea-lover, then you’re in luck! Black and green teas contain polyphenols that can serve to help rid your mouth of sulfur compounds, and in turn reduce oral bacteria.
- Breathe through your nose – when you breathe through your mouth, it contributes to dry mouth, which we all know by now is not good for your breath.
- Things to chew – Cloves and fennel seeds have antiseptic qualities that help with bad breath by attacking the bacteria that causes it. Likewise, lemon and orange rinds contain citric acid that stimulates the salivary glands to fight bad breath. So, while unconventional, chewing on a lemon or orange rind can go a long way toward cleaning up your breath.
We here at San Antonio Periodontics & Implants want you to have the healthiest mouth possible. If you find that you can’t shake bad breath due to gum problems, periodontal disease, or any number of periodontal-related problems, call 210.824.0111 or schedule an appointment to get the professional care you need.