What’s Causing That Bad Breath?

Bad breath. It’s one of those things that lots of people have and nobody wants- or wants to tell them about. Whether you know your breath isn’t as fresh as it should be or you’ve had to find out from someone else, bad breath can be embarrassing and isolating. But don’t take it lying down. There are plenty of ways to combat it- but doing so means locating the source. If you’re at a loss as to why your breath needs assistance: stat, before you panic, see if your mouth has any of these issues.

Braces By nature, braces don’t cause bad breath, but not cleaning them properly might. Think of all that food and plaque accumulating in your mouth. So, how can you stop this from happening? Well, first of all, rinse your mouth out or swish with water after each meal or beverage if you can’t get to a toothbrush. This will help keep your braces a bit cleaner and your breath a lot fresher.

Bite Guards Whether you only wear it at night or you wear it 'round the clock, your bite guard needs regular cleansing to stay fresh. Most bite guards can be cleaned with a toothbrush and paste, or by soaking in a denture or retainer cleaner. Speaking of dentures and retainers, the same applies to them too. They both need regular cleaning to remove plaque and bacteria, even if they’re applied only to clean teeth.

Medication Some medications or vitamins (like fish oil) have been known to cause their fair share of bad breath, but another hidden cause could be a common side effect of many medications: dry mouth. How does dry mouth cause bad breath? When the mouth is dry, the plaque and bacteria that are normally washed away by saliva thrive on your teeth, upping not just your risk of cavities, but your risk of bad breath, too.

If you think you have bad breath, consider if any of those sources apply to you. If not, speak to Dr. George about locating the culprit. Her office can be reached at 724-220-2347.