Bad Breath? It May Take More Than Brushing And Rinsing
Look at just about any toothpaste or mouthwash packaging and you are certain to see a reference about how these products will improve the smell of your breath. However, it is important to understand that brushing and using mouthwash alone are not always the solution to foul breath. Underlying factors are sometimes the cause of the problem. If you have an odor that toothpaste and mouthwash cannot seem to beat, learn more about what could be the problem.
Flossing
If you do not floss your teeth, there is no amount of brushing or rinsing that you can perform to rectify your odor concerns. The reason for this is that when you do not floss, you essentially have rotting food in your mouth, and rotting food never has a favorable scent.
Whether it is meat, fruit, or any other food, when it rests between your teeth, bacteria develop around the area and it starts to smell. Flossing can remove the food particles from your mouth before they reach this stage in the process. Flossing also lowers the risk of gingivitis, which can also cause a foul smell
Dry Mouth
If your mouth feels particularly dry most of the time, it could also be the cause for the breath odors that you are currently experiencing. Saliva works as the mouth's natural rinsing system. When saliva is produced and travels through the mouth, it also helps carry away odor-producing bacteria. When your mouth is dry, it also means that you have a lack of saliva, which means that these bacteria are not being rinsed away.
Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of factors, including an issue with your salivary glands, medication, and congestion that causes you to breathe through your mouth. You will want to speak with your dental provider about this issue.
Health Concerns
Sometimes, the issue with your foul-smelling breath goes much deeper than the mouth, teeth, and gums. Instead, the odor could be a symptom of an underlying health concern.
Kidney disease, digestive concerns, and diabetes are just some of the medical conditions that can cause your breath to take on an unusual odor. If you know that you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, you should share this information with your dental provider so that they can help you treat this symptom the correct way.
Speak to your general dentist about any odors you have concerns about to ensure you get to the bottom of them.
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