There are many causes of bad breath. Understanding the reasons behind your halitosis can help you make the right lifestyle changes to improve your oral and overall health. At Lovett Dental Vintage Park, we provide dental health education to our clients. Find out more about conditions that contribute to bad breath.
Oral Health and Bad Breath
The biggest causes of bad breath derive from dental diseases. Bad breath resulting from oral health conditions smells like sulfur or rotting eggs. This is typically caused by cysteine on the gums or front of your tongue. Usually, good oral hygiene can prevent this type of bad breath.
In more extreme cases, your breath may smell like fecal material. Imbalances within the mouth or protein breakdown on the tongue or gums result in bad breath. Schedule an appointment at our family dental clinic to get a professional opinion on the best way to get rid of your halitosis.
Types of Bad Breath
Here are the types of bad breath that derive from systemic diseases:
- A cheesy smell due to nasal issues
- A fruity smell from uncontrolled diabetes
- A fishy smell or scent of ammonia can imply kidney disease
- An acidic smell comes from asthma or cystic fibrosis
- A sweet, musty odor indicates liver cirrhosis
- A fecal odor could be caused by a bowel obstruction
If your children suffer from bad breath, talk to one of our Lovett Dental Vintage Park pediatric dentists for causes of bad breath in kids.
Causes of Bad Breath
Certain foods, tobacco, poor oral hygiene, and dry mouth are among the main causes of bad breath.
- Certain foods: Food particles that stay in your mouth cause bacteria to flourish and lead to bad breath. Pungent foods, such as spices, onions, and garlic, affect your breath after they enter the bloodstream and exit the lungs. When you exhale, these foods can cause bad breath.
- Tobacco: Smoking cigarettes or cigars and inserting chewing tobacco in your mouth leaves a foul odor behind. In addition, tobacco products increase your chances of developing cancer.
- Gum disease: Poor oral hygiene is the main cause of gum disease. If you skip brushing your teeth and flossing, more food particles stay in your mouth. When bacteria digest food particles, it causes bad breath. Having more bacteria in your mouth increases your risk of gum disease. Clean your retainers and other dental appliances regularly. Also, be sure to clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth.
- Dry mouth: Saliva clears away food particles in your mouth. If you don’t produce enough saliva, remaining food particles may cause halitosis. Some medications cause mouth that indirectly leads to bad breath.
- Medical conditions: Many medical conditions contribute to the causes of bad breath. These include respiratory and sinus infections, lung infections, and a sore throat. This is especially true when mucous drains into your nose or mouth. Liver, kidney, and other types of diseases can also cause bad breath.
Family Dental Care
Lovett Dental Vintage Park has a team of experienced dental professionals. We offer many categories of specialty care. Our dental specialists include:
- Pediatric dentists
- Orthodontists
- Periodontists
- Maxillofacial surgeons
- Endodontists
Whether you need teeth whitening services for an improved smile or implants to support your dentures, we can help. Our patient pediatric dentists help make the visit less scary for kids, and our high-end cosmetic dentistry services give you the smile you’ve been dreaming about.
Contact Lovett Dental Vintage Park at 832-843-6776 with your questions on the causes of bad breath or to schedule a checkup or cleaning.
