Dental Advice for the Sweet Tooth

Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.

What Is Giving You Bad Breath?

Dentist Blog

Is your bad breath making it difficult for others to focus on what you are saying? 

Chronic bad breath, also referred to as halitosis in medical terms, is an oral health problem that can ruin your personal and professional life. Unlike morning breath, which typically goes away after brushing and flossing your teeth, bad breath tends to last longer, affecting your daily interactions with other people.

The good news is that the problem can be defeated, but this requires identifying its underlying cause. Read along to familiarise yourself with some common causes of bad breath.

Poor Oral Hygiene

One of the main reasons why people develop halitosis is because they don't make an effort to keep their mouths clean and healthy. Neglecting oral hygiene allows the bacteria in the mouth to attack the food debris that lingers after meals, resulting in bad breath. 

Brushing and flossing your teeth daily is a good way to keep your breath fresh and maintain good oral health. Also, consider using a tongue scraper to remove bacteria from your tongue.

Dry Mouth

Aside from allowing you to taste, break down, and swallow food, saliva helps fight the bacteria that cause bad breath. If you do not have enough of it in your mouth, the risk of bad breath will be higher.

Treatment for dry mouth depends on multiple factors. If the underlying cause is found, steps can be taken to stimulate the production of saliva and treat continual bad breath.

Oral Health Problems

Bad breath can be an indication of underlying dental problems. For example, people suffering from gingivitis and periodontal disease tend to have chronic bad breath due to bacterial growth in their mouths.

Prescription Medications

Certain medications can indirectly put you at a higher risk of having bad breath by drying out your mouth. If your dry mouth and bad breath are associated with certain medications you are using, you may need to ask your doctor to prescribe alternative drugs that are less likely to contribute to dry mouth.

Tobacco Use

Smoking or using tobacco products increases the risk of halitosis because it leaves chemical compounds in your mouth. When these chemicals mix with your saliva, they can cause bad breath—or what is commonly referred to as a smoker's breath.  

Bad breath has many causes. The best way to treat or manage this problem is to see your regular dentist so they can determine its underlying cause. 

Visit a local dentist for more info. 

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2 May 2022