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Dental Issues Could Be the Cause of Your Bad Breath
Having bad breath can have a negative impact on your daily life, affecting both your relationship with others and your self-esteem. Although this condition is easy to control, it still affects about 25% of the population.
It usually goes away after brushing your teeth or using mouthwash. However, in some cases, this only masks the smell or makes it disappear for a short time.
If this is your case, your bad breath could be related to dental issues rather than your diet.
In this article, we will discuss the relationship between bad breath and dental problems and explain how to fix it.
How is Bad Breath Triggered?
Halitosis, commonly called bad breath, is caused by different factors.
Usually it is caused by foods that have strong odors, such as garlic and onion. After eating these types of foods, the smell permeates the oral cavity.
However, halitosis is also caused by bacteria involved in oral diseases. When food residue is left in the mouth, it begins to break down as bacteria breaks it down.
Also, large amounts of bacteria present in different oral diseases, such as gum disease and infections, can produce an unpleasant odor.
Bad Breath and Oral Diseases
Whenever there is an oral disease, there is a huge bacterial colonization behind it. The most common dental problems responsible for bad breath include conditions such as:
Gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis are caused by the buildup of tartar, which is made up of a combination of proteins, minerals and bacteria. Thus, as long as the tartar is not eliminated, the bad breath does not disappear.
Infections: abscesses and other oral infections have large amounts of bacteria. When they remain confined within the bone, they generally do not produce an odor. However, as soon as they start flowing into the mouth through the gums, the bad smell is released, and bad breath appears.
Moreover, it is also common to encounter a type of infection called pericoronitis. It often develops when the third molars erupt, causing pain, swelling of the gums around the tooth and bad breath.
Dry mouth: saliva is the natural defense system of the mouth. It regulates its pH (level of acidity), helps eliminate food remains after eating and controls the population of bacteria, keeping the flora at a normal level.
However, certain conditions and medications can decrease saliva production, leading to dry mouth.
Since there is not enough saliva, odor-producing bacteria are increased. In addition, it leads to the development of gum disease, thereby increasing bad breath.
How to Treat It?
Unfortunately, brushing your teeth will only mask the smell. It is essential to go to a dental consultation to follow the appropriate treatment.
Fortunately, most of the time, a professional cleaning is enough to eliminate halitosis completely.
Although bad breath is a common condition that can have a direct impact on daily life, affecting thousands of people around the world, it can be easily prevented by maintaining good oral health.
If brushing your teeth doesn't help you get rid of it, the cause is most likely related to a dental problem, such as gum disease. Make an appointment with your dentist, they will get rid of your halitosis and you won't have to worry about your breath anymore.
Article References
Healthline Editorial Team. (2020, December 7). Bad breath (halitosis). Healthline. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/bad-breath
Newman, T. (2018, January 10). Bad Breath (Halitosis): Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166636
Stanborough, RJ (2020, October 12). Types of Bad Breath Odors: Causes, Treatment, Prevention. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-bad-breath-smells
Wyatt, A. (2020, October 22). Causes, treatments and prevention of bad breath. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/bad-breath
Nikita, E. (2017). Pathological conditions. Osteoarchaeology, 301–354. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128040218000085
