Bad Breath
Bad breath, also known as chronic halitosis, is a frequent yet embarrassing problem that affects millions of Americans and can potentially damage your job prospects, self-confidence, and social life. Since bad breath largely is a result of decaying food and poor oral health, we at Healthy Smiles of California can help alleviate the problem.
What Causes Bad Breath?
The primary cause behind bad breath is poor oral hygiene. Not taking care of your own teeth by not flossing or brushing regularly makes your whole mouth unhealthy, resulting in bad breath. Even if you do brush and floss often, it is possible that some bits of food can become trapped around or between your teeth, making them difficult to remove by yourself. Bacteria then begins to break down the remaining food in your mouth, releasing various gasses, such as hydrogen sulfide and sulfur into the air. Needless to say, this causes your breath to smell terrible.
There are other causes for bad breath. Eating certain types of food, such as garlic, dairy, and onions, for instance, can give you bad breath for a little while. However, this type of bad breath will frequently dissipate within 24 hours or less, requiring no treatment. Other forms of bad breath are more serious, such as tooth decay, gum disease, a dental abscess, dry mouth syndrome, or any number of oral health problems have also been known to cause bad breath.
How Can I Prevent or Treat Bad Breath?
The simplest way to rid yourself of bad breath is to exercise good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and using mouthwash. This process will go a long way towards getting rid of your halitosis. On top of this, you should visit your dentist regularly, so that we at Healthy Smiles of California can get rid of any food trapped in your mouth while cleaning your teeth and giving expert oral hygiene advice that fits your lifestyle.