When Your Bad Breath Needs a Dentist

Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, can be a disruptive and embarrassing condition. If you suffer, you are certainly not alone. It is estimated that 14 to 15% of Americans experience chronic bad breath. Bad breath can jeopardize your relationships and your career. Sadly, many people are relying on mints, chewing gum and breath sprays to combat their condition. However, in most cases, this is only temporarily masking halitosis. To get real, long-term relief, you may need to visit your dentist.

Bad Breath Can a Warning Sign for a More Serious Condition

Bad breath is often a consequence of excess bacteria in the mouth. When bacteria feeds on food debris left on your teeth, gums and tongue, it produces foul smelling sulfur compounds. Therefore, you may just need to step up your brushing and flossing habits to reverse your halitosis. It is especially important to brush all surfaces of your tongue, as bacteria loves to live within the soft, moist grooves of your tongue.

In other situations, your bad breath can be a more serious indication of decay, gum disease or infection within your oral cavity. A dentist can perform the proper evaluation and x-rays to determine exactly why you are struggling to keep your breath fresh. If gum disease is the culprit, you’ll want to get it under control to avoid receding gums, tooth loss and threats to your overall health.

Bad breath also goes hand in hand with dry mouth. Whether your medication is making your saliva production low or you’ve always battled xerostomia, it can produce notable consequences against your dental health. Adequate amounts of saliva are necessary to keep a neutral pH in your mouth and rinse away harmful bacteria and debris. Without enough spit, you’re at risk for decay, gum disease and bad breath!

Get Effective Halitosis Treatment

If you want to get rid of your bad breath for good, talk to you dentist. While you may be embarrassed to bring up, we’ve seen and treated countless patients with the same concerns as you. Call Carolina Commons Dentistry today!