Ways to Improve Recurring Halitosis

Blonde woman wearing a floral blouse and a dark hat covers her mouth with her fingers due to recurring halitosis

Bad breath, or halitosis, can really put a damper on your personal and professional life—but it doesn’t have to! There are a variety of ways to stop recurring bad breath in its tracks and get back to enjoying fresh, stress-free breath.

Causes of Halitosis

The first step to ending halitosis is finding its source. While every person is different, these are the most common causes of halitosis:

  1. Poor Oral Hygiene & Gum Disease
  2. When you don’t adhere to a proper dental health regimen, you allow food particles, debris, acid, and bacteria to sit in the crevices and corners of your mouth. Poor oral hygiene can cause bad breath and even gum disease, which further contributes to the smell.

  3. Certain Foods
  4. Foods can cause bad breath, such as garlic, onions, and certain spices. When remnants of pungent food sit in your mouth without being brushed and washed away, they can lead to a bad stench!

  5. Dehydration & Dry Mouth
  6. Saliva helps clean your mouth by washing away leftover food debris and bad bacteria. A reduction in saliva production can result in an increased risk of tooth decay and bad breath.

  7. Tobacco
  8. Tobacco use can leave a very foul, distinct odor in your mouth and on your lips. In addition to halitosis, tobacco use can also lead to more serious health issues and concerns.

  9. Tonsillitis or Respiratory Infections
  10. Excess mucus is produced when the sinuses or lungs are inflamed. This mucus can accumulate in the mouth, throat, and nose, and begins to stink.

Ways to Combat Bad Breath

Now that we’ve discussed the leading causes of bad breath, let’s talk about how to solve it once and for all:

  1. Improve Your Daily Oral Hygiene
  2. First and foremost, we recommend that you brush and floss every day. By brushing twice a day and flossing daily, you can remove plaque buildup and trapped foods. Don’t forget to scrape your tongue to get that icky, smelly coating off, and rinse your mouth out often with water and an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash to get rid of smelly particles.

  3. Watch Your Diet
  4. Limit foods or drinks that will sour your breath, like onions and garlic. Pungent foods can make their way into your bloodstream and travel to your lungs where you then breathe them out (gross!). Also rinse out your mouth with water after you eat and drink.

  5. Drink Water!
  6. Another surefire way to prevent recurring bad breath is to stay hydrated and keep your mouth moist at all times. Moreover, consider chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production.

  7. Quit or Avoid Tobacco
  8. Last but not least, kick the tobacco habit to improve your breath, your oral health, and your overall health.

Questions About Bad Breath?

If your bad breath is still lingering, you may have gum disease or another medical condition. We recommend that you make an appointment with your primary care provider and schedule your next visit to Bluedot Dental to explore the problem further. We can help you get to the bottom of your halitosis! Contact our office to schedule a consultation!

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