Most of us have suffered from bad breath after consuming a strongly scented meal. Usually, you can get rid of a foul odor in your mouth by practicing oral hygiene. You can brush away lingering bits of food to leave your mouth feeling and smelling fresh.
However, if you notice that bad breath persists after this regimen, then it might be a symptom of a larger oral health problem. You might require an evaluation from your dentist.
You can better fight this unpleasant dental condition when you know the potential causes of chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis. Read on to learn details about these factors that can lead to halitosis.
Flavorful Foods
As mentioned, your diet can play a major role in the formation of bad breath. While oral hygiene can eradicate many cases of acute bad breath, certain strong foods like garlic or onions may lead to persistent halitosis that brushing your teeth cannot fix.
Fragrant oils within these food items will transfer to your bloodstream where they can reach your lungs and create bad-smelling breath that can last for longer than a day. Pay attention to how your diet affects your breath to ensure you do not suffer from halitosis.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly will scrub away food particles that can cause bad breath. It also gets rid of plaque, a film that develops from your mouth’s natural bacteria. If you do not practice thorough and consistent oral hygiene, plaque will remain on your teeth, and the excess bacteria will start to smell bad.
So make sure you brush your teeth at least twice each day, morning and night. Floss every day as well to remove plaque that collects between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. Consider other oral hygiene products like mouthwash to boost your mouth’s cleanliness.
Dry Mouth
If you have ever felt a dry, tacky feeling on your tongue, you are familiar with dry mouth. This condition can occur when you are dehydrated, and the body produces less saliva. While uncomfortable, dry mouth also threatens your oral health because it allows bacteria to spread more easily.
Then the bacteria will emit a foul odor that will impact your breath. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. A sip of water can also treat acute dry mouth cases because it introduces moisture to the oral environment. If dry mouth persists, you may need to speak to your dentist to find the cause of the symptom.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a common infection affecting the gum tissue. You can contract it when oral bacteria reach and infect the gums. Its early stage often presents with irritation and inflammation in the gums. But as the infection progresses, excess bacteria will begin to smell and give you bad breath.
You will need treatment from your dentist to get rid of gum disease. But you can adhere to good oral hygiene practices to lower your risk of contracting it. Make sure you do not ignore periodontal symptoms, or you could face serious consequences to your oral health.