Saturday, February 1, 2014

If others are turning away It Could Be Your Breath

Most dentists have seen their fair share of patients with bad breath, and if you have been turning people away because of your chronic halitosis, it may be time to make an appointment with your dentist.

A number of things including poor oral hygiene can cause chronic bad breath. Brushing once and flossing twice a day can help your chronic bad breath, but if tooth decay and gum disease have set in, you may need a deep cleaning to get rid of the plaque and tartar.


When you schedule an appointment your dentist will be able to determine if your teeth and gums cause your bad breath. If it is something else entirely, Dr. Barkley may recommend that you see your doctor.

Bad breath can also be caused by certain physical conditions including diabetes, kidney, or liver disease. Other conditions that may be causing your bad breath include bronchitis, colds, and sinusitis, and of course, tooth and gum infections. Respiratory tract infections will eventually break down the tissue beginning a cell flow loaded with mucus that will feed the bacteria in your mouth causing halitosis.

It’s a fact that you cannot smell your own breath, which is a shame really, as that new colleague that you were out to impress just may be turned off by the foul smell coming from your mouth.

Your mouth houses billions of bacteria and literally grows faster than weeds. Bacteria will thrive on every surface in your mouth including your gums, cheeks, teeth, and tongue. Bacteria produces waste giving you the breath that sends others running for the hills. Just like all living creatures, bacteria has to get rid of the waste somewhere, and when it’s your mouth that is producing the bacteria, the waste ends up in between your teeth and below your gum line.



Talk to your dentist the next time you have a check up if you are constantly dealing with chronic bad breath. If your halitosis is a direct result of your oral hygiene, Dr. Barkley can help.