There are so many things on the market today that are designed as short-term solutions to deal with bad breath. Many people load up on gum and mints, because they feel like they’re constantly battling odorous breath.
The truth is that there are different types of bad breath, and picking the right solution for you should be based on the root cause of your problem. Our Saint Louis dentists are here to help.
For example, it’s very common for patients to temporarily have bad breath after consuming something with a strong taste or odor. Meats, coffee, anything garlic or onion flavored can all make your mouth feel and smell stale. The good news is that this type of bad breath will dissipate over time. You can lessen the effect of these substances by consuming a lot of water and brushing and flossing your teeth.
If you’re dealing with chronic, hard to treat bad breath, this may be due to ongoing infections in your mouth. Harmful oral bacteria actually release unpleasant odors as they grow and multiply. So, if you have existing cavities or gum disease, you may suffer from bad breath as a result. Here’s the problem: many temporary solutions for bad breath, like mints and gums, contain sugar. Bacteria love to feed on sugars, so mints and gum can actually exacerbate the problem. In these cases, it is crucial that you seek treatment for the underlying dental infection in order to get control of chronic bad breath.
You may also find that your breath is stale if you regularly experience dry mouth. Saliva serves a very important purpose for your oral health; saliva helps to neutralize oral bacteria and re-mineralize your enamel. If you suffer from dry mouth, it means that you don’t have enough saliva. When dry mouth is the underlying cause of malodorous breath, you’ll probably want to undergo a professional cleaning to give your smile a clean slate. From there, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, and talk to your dentist about whether mouth rinse can further optimize your oral health routine.
Our Saint Louis dentists are here to help you figure out the root causes of bad breath, and get the appropriate type of treatment. Give us a call to get started!