If you don't brush and floss your teeth everyday, food particles remain on your teeth and cause bad breath. In addition, if you wear dentures, food can become lodged underneath your dentures, creating an unpleasant smell. Odor-causing bacteria can also collect on the tongue, which many people fail to clean as part their oral health routine.
Saliva usually washes away excess food particles and bacteria that build up on teeth. If you don’t have enough saliva to do this you will definitely suffer from an unpleasant smell. Common causes of decrease saliva are:
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Tonsillectomy is the removal of two oval-shaped tissue pads, named tonsils, from the back of the throat. Tonsillectomy is a popular treatment for airway obstruction and recurrent tonsillar infection in children. Tonsillectomy causes mild or moderate pain in most people.
Certain foods and drinks can also contribute to bad breath. Foods like garlic and onions contain volatile compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream and then exhaled through the lungs. Coffee and alcohol can also dry out the mouth, leading to a decrease in saliva production and an increase in bacteria growth.
Conclusion:
If you think there’s an issue in your mouth that’s behind your bad breath, seeing a dental professional for treatment can help you get to the bottom of the problem and improve your oral health and the scent of your breath at the same time.
Kidney disease can be caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, medications, or injury. If you notice your breath smells like ammonia, visit your doctor as soon as possible to have any underlying causes treated. Additionally, regular checkups with your dentist are important to build a good oral hygiene routine.
Dr. Benjamin Greene and Dr. Jonathan Everett at Kirkland Family Dentistry have been providing dental services in Kirkland, Washington for a better part of 25 years and are staunch supporters of effectively eliminating the causes of halitosis rather than aiming to cure them.
Gargling and using essential oils are two great ways to freshen your breath, fight infections, and kill all of the bacteria that cause the foul smell.
The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups for Fresher Breath
Understanding the causes of bad breath can help you make the necessary decisions and changes to address the problem. There are quite a few potential causes of bad breath, and many people have more than just one. While it can be tough to discern exactly which of these problems are leading to the unpleasant smell, we have tools to address each one of them.
Our clinical experts continually monitor the health and medical content posted on CURA4U, and we update our blogs and articles when new information becomes available. Last reviewed by Dr.Saad Zia on April 29th, 2023.
During a dental check-up, the dentist will examine the mouth, including the tonsils, for any signs of tonsil stones or other oral health issues. They may also perform a thorough cleaning to remove any plaque or bacteria that could contribute to bad breath.
Tonsil stones form when the food particles, bacteria and mucus gets trapped in the pockets of the tonsils. When you don’t maintain healthy oral hygiene, the particles and bacteria can get trapped. This trapped debris is the hub of bacteria to infest. This can lead to infections and cause symptoms such as soreness, swelling, and even bad breath.
Tonsil stones are risk-free buildup that will go away on their own. However, the duration of tonsil stones can vary from person to person. They may go away or melt on their own in a short period, or they can also stay for weeks if they are deep in the throat and bacteria continue to grow on them. Besides, if proper oral hygiene is not performed, it may last for years and lead to a more serious problem, such as tonsillitis.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is another common cause of halitosis. When plaque builds up on the teeth and gums, it can lead to inflammation and infection. This can result in an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth. Certain medical conditions such as dry mouth, sinus infections, and respiratory tract infections can also contribute to bad breath.
Furthermore, untreated tonsil stones can contribute to poor oral health. The bacteria associated with tonsil stones can spread to other areas of the mouth, leading to tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues.