Are you suffering from severe bad breath, also known as halitosis? The first thing you should do is identify the cause so you can determine an effective treatment.

Chronic bad breath (Halitosis) has numerous causes including the following:

• Using Tobacco? If you are a smoker, quit. Tobacco is a guarantee that your breath will smell. If you are ready to quit, speak to your physician or dentist for support and advice.
• What are you eating? If you are consuming certain foods, like garlic this may be contributing to your bad breath. Once these foods are absorbed into the bloodstream, the smell is forced out through the breath.
• Is your mouth dry? If your mouth is excessively dry, there may not be enough saliva to wash away bacteria and food particles, which can cause a horrible smell if they build up on the teeth.
• Infections. If your bad breath doesn’t seem to have any other cause, it could indicate an infection somewhere else in the body. If you having severe bad breath and your dentist has ruled out any oral problems, see your physician for an evaluation on the issue. It could be a sign of numerous conditions including chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, diabetes, liver/kidney problems or respiratory tract infections, making it very important not to ignore the problem.

The overall best way to improve bad breath is to keep a thorough oral care routine which includes twice daily brushing and daily flossing to rid the food particles and bacteria. Using a mouthwash can improve bad breath but only short term, your dentist may suggest an antimicrobial rinse to help control the bacteria.

As always we would like to thank you for being part of our practice family!