What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath can arise from oral bacteria, food, dry mouth, gum disease, or other conditions. Brush and clean between your teeth regularly, gently clean your tongue, and stay hydrated. Persistent bad breath deserves a dental assessment rather than repeated masking.

Today, we are going to decode common causes of bad breath. Some might surprise you, some may not! 

Nights Out:

While it’s fun and enjoyable to spend time with friends, having too many happy hour drinks can cause your mouth to dry out excessively. Once your mouth is dry, bacteria can multiply leaving your mouth foul smelling. Instead, enjoy your nights out without caffeine, tobacco, spicy food, or excessive alcohol. If you do drink alcohol, make sure you drink plenty of water as well. 

Your Tongue:

Every beverage and food that enters your mouth, passes by your tongue before it reaches your stomach. This makes your tongue an easy home for bacteria that’s been left behind.  After you’ve finished eating, using a tongue scraper and some toothpaste is a great way to remove excess bacteria that could cause bad breath. While you're brushing your teeth every morning and night, make sure you don’t forget about your tongue in the process. Scrape it!

Not Eating Carbs:

Very low-carbohydrate diets can cause ketosis, which may change the odor of the breath. This is one possible cause of bad breath, not the leading cause for everyone. Discuss dietary or medical concerns with an appropriate clinician rather than changing a prescribed diet solely to mask breath odor. 

Having a Cold or Infection:

Colds can be annoying, and we're going to add another annoyance to them – bad breath! Typically, when you have a cold, your nose becomes stuffy or tends to drain more mucus down your throat, and what loves to feed on mucus? You guessed it, bacteria. Try using mouth wash throughout the day to help remove excess bacteria from your mouth.

Sugar-free gum or mints may temporarily freshen breath, but do not treat the underlying cause. Avoid relying on them in place of oral hygiene and dental care.

Another way to help reduce bacteria from forming in your mouth is by visiting your local dentist for a bi-annual checkup for a routine cleaning.  A good cleaning will remove plaque, a sticky film containing bacteria, and hardened tartar.

For questions about gum health or if you suffer any of the symptoms listed here, contact Smiles by Bergen Dental and make an appointment. Smiles by Bergen Dental is conveniently located in Midland Park New Jersey, we're within minutes from Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ramsey, Allendale, Saddle River, and Ho-Ho-Kus.