Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems.
Brushing and flossing daily helps to remove the food particles that can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue, which can cause bad breath.
There are additional causes of halitosis, including:
- Eating certain foods, such as onions, garlic and spices. After you digest these foods, they enter your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs and affect your breath.
- Dry Mouth. Saliva helps cleanse your mouth, removing particles that cause bad odors. Chronic dry mouth can be caused by a problem with your salivary glands and some diseases.
- Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth.
- Smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease, another source of bad breath.
- Poor Dental Hygiene. A colorless sticky film of bacteria (plaque) forms on your teeth and can irritate your gums if not brushed away. Your tongue also can trap bacteria that produce orders.
If you have chronic bad breath, or halitosis, the condition can take a huge toll on your self-confidence and personal life. Drs. Lewis Ricciuti, James Albanese and Jennifer Moore offer highly effective bad breath treatment at their Long Island dental practice. After diagnosing the exact cause of your condition, they will develop a customized treatment plan to freshen your breath, end your embarrassment, and improve your quality of life. Contact 4Excellence in Dentistry today to learn more about the causes of halitosis, as well as bad breath treatment options.
