What’s the one thing that’s worse than finding out you have bad breath? Not finding out! Without knowing, you may assume your breath is fine and not do anything about that offensive odor. And there are definitely steps you can take to eliminate bad breath, also called halitosis. Hutchinson dentist Dr. Grant Ringler has helped many patients win the battle against bad breath and he can help you, too. Read on to find out what might be causing your bad breath and what you can do.
Causes of Bad Breath
Let’s face it—bad breath happens to everyone sometimes. Most of us wake up with a somewhat sour taste in our mouth. This is because our mouths produce very little saliva while we sleep, so the VOCs (volatile sulfur compounds) that oral bacteria produce don’t get washed away as they do during the day. Consequently, we can wake up with bad mouth odor.
Another common factor is gum disease. Also called periodontal disease, this is a bacterial infection that begins when bacterial plaque begins to accumulate along the gum line. If not removed with regular brushing and flossing, the bacteria in plaque can infect gum tissue and eventually the bone structure underneath that supports your teeth. If you’ve noticed that your gums are red and swollen and that they bleed when you brush or floss, then this may be a sign of the early phase of gum disease called gingivitis. If left untreated, chronic bad breath can be a primary sign that the disease is advancing to become periodontitis. Similarly, tooth decay or an abscess can be marked by halitosis.
Your Dentist in Hutchinson Can Treat Halitosis
The first thing Dr. Ringler recommends to patients who have bad breath is more frequent brushing and flossing—after every meal, if possible. With proper oral hygiene, you clean away food particles that would otherwise stay trapped between teeth or in the cracks and crevices of your tongue. Eventually, they can become malodorous.
In addition, maintaining your twice-yearly dental checkups with the dentist in Hutchison is critical to avoiding bad breath. At these appointments, we check for signs of decay or gum disease. By fending off these troublemakers, we can help you avoid bad breath, too.
Other steps you can take to eliminate halitosis include:
- Staying hydrated, because a dry mouth can lead to bad breath
- Chew gum with xylitol to increase saliva production
- Eat crunchy fruits and vegetable to naturally clean your teeth
- If the problem remains, see your physician to make sure a general health concern isn’t behind your bad breath
Call Your Hutchinson Dentist Today
To treat your bad breath, schedule an appointment with Dr. Ringler in Hutchinson, KS, today.