Do you suffer from bad breath? Here are a few reasons why you might be experiencing it as well as how to fix it!
Unknown Reasons for Bad Breath
Build Up of Bacteria on Surface of Tongue
When build up occurs on your tongue, the bacteria can cause bad breath. That’s why when you’re brushing your teeth, you should make sure you gently brush your tongue, too! This is an important step in making sure your mouth is clean each day. You can also use a tongue scraper to help get extra bacteria off.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is caused by a lot of things—medications, dehydration, mouth breathing, smoking, or certain health conditions, like diabetes, to name a few. When your mouth is dry, bacteria are more likely to stick around as there is less saliva and water to wash them away. The bacteria will then release volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) which cause bad breath.
To help prevent dry mouth, you can make sure you stay hydrated and try chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production.
Build Up of Food Debris in Between Teeth
If food particles are left in your mouth, over time odor-producing bacteria will grow and may create bad breath. Make sure you are flossing everyday during your morning and nightly dental routine to prevent this.
Tonsil Stones
If you find that you aren’t experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, your culprit might be tonsil stones. Tonsil stones are calcified formations that are in the crevices of your tonsils. They are made up of bacteria, trapped food particles, and dead cells, which may cause bad breath. To prevent these from forming, you can make sure you visit your dentist regularly, practice your dental routine, and we even recommend using a Waterpik water flosser to help. You can visit your dentist to receive a formal diagnosis for tonsil stones.
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Dentist in St. Louis Park, MN and Bloomington, MN
If you have been struggling with bad breath, we would love to help! You can make an appointment online at one of our St. Louis Park or Bloomington, MN dental locations and we’d be happy to get you started on your journey to a healthy, beautiful smile!
