The Many Causes of Bad Breath

It’s our goal at Smilehaven Dental Center to not only be your source for high-quality dental treatments – we want to be your source of knowledge and information when it comes to dental best practices. That’s why we’re always glad to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. One such question that we commonly get asked about is related to bad breath and why it occurs. Bad breath doesn’t only happen because of one reason; it can occur because of many different causes, some of them including the following.

Food

What’s often the cause of bad breath is food. When you eat food and you don’t clean your mouth of all the remnants, the leftover food particles will begin to breakdown, increasing the bacteria in your mouth and then emitting an unpleasant odor. Certain foods are more likely to cause bad breath; these include onions, garlic, and dairy products.

Dry Mouth

As mentioned, food particles that are left in your mouth can begin to emit odors. One of the reasons why food can linger is because of dry mouth. Naturally, saliva will help wash your mouth of any food particles and bacteria. However, when you have dry mouth, your saliva production is limited and you’ll be more likely to have leftover food particles in your mouth. This will lead to bad breath.

Bad Hygiene

Another common cause of bad breath is just simply having bad hygiene. Maintaining proper brushing and other oral hygiene habits is vital in cleansing your mouth of food and bacteria that can lead to bad breath.

Mouth Infections

When you have a mouth infection, your mouth may smell bad as well. Some common mouth infections that can do this include gum disease, cavities, and impacted teeth. It’s just another reason why it’s critical for you to maintain a great level of oral hygiene.

Smoking

This one is obvious! Smoking will create an unpleasant smell that lingers in your mouth long after you’ve put your cigarette out. If that wasn’t enough, it can also lead to gum disease, which is another cause of bad breath.

Contact Your La Mesa and El Cajon, CA Dentist Today!

If you have any further questions about bad breath, please feel free to contact us. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with us, we encourage you to give us a call at (619) 464-2801. We hope to hear from you soon and help you attain an optimal level of oral hygiene!