Common Causes of Bad Breath

Do you work in the Lewisville, Coppell, and Dallas/Fort Worth area and have a concern about why you keep being passed up for that promotion? Are you tired of spending the night alone and wonder why you can’t seem to get a date? 

If bad breath is affecting your personal life, then it’s time to do something about it. You may want to stop and speak with our dentist at a confidential consultation to talk about the underlying causes of your halitosis.

Common Causes of Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Having bad breath can be something temporary or a chronic problem. Finding the culprit is often easy enough, but in some instances the cause can be a bit of a mystery. Here are some things to consider when trying to determine the cause of your bad breath rather than cover it up with a mouthwash:

There’s A Filmy Layer on Your Tongue

Your tongue can reveal a lot about your health. Often times, having a film on your tongue just means that it’s dirty and needs to be cleaned.

Brushing your tongue with a toothbrush and toothpaste, or using a tongue scraper is very effective at removing odor-causing bacteria.  However, certain medical conditions like vitamin deficiencies and yeast infections can cause a persistent coating on the surface of your tongue that you can’t clean off. These issues should be evaluated by your primary care physician. 

You Have Gum Disease

Bacteria from plaque buildup causes gum inflammation, bleeding, and a strong, offensive odor. This condition is known as periodontal (gum) disease and is due to buildup deep under your gum tissues.

Our Coppell dentist will screen for, diagnose and treat your gum disease right here at our office. X-rays and an oral examination will determine the extent of the condition and an appropriate care plan will be recommended.

Usually, we can do a special cleaning called root planing and scaling to remove all of the buildup, but people with advanced gum disease may need gum surgery or more therapeutic treatments.

Your Mouth Is Dry (Xerostomia)

Having a dry mouth prevents you from having enough saliva to neutralize acids and flush away waste. Aging is a common cause of this issue and can be improved by incorporating dry mouth products into your oral care routine.  For example, you could use a special toothpaste, mouthwash, mouth spray, or lozenges to increase the moisture level in your mouth.

Your dry mouth could also be a side effect of frequently taking certain medications. If you think this might be the cause of your problem, then speak with the doctor who prescribed you the medicines to see if there is a better alternative.

Drying products that contain alcohol – including mouthwash – can make xerostomia worse.

Compromised Dental Work           

Loose fillings or crowns allow bacteria to seep underneath them, resulting in an awful smell you can’t clean away. Dental x-rays and an oral exam can determine if this is the cause of your halitosis and what can be done to fix it.

Bad Breath Treatment Lewisville

If you’re in the Lewisville, Coppell, or the DFW area and need some help determining the cause of your bad breath or if it keeps coming back no matter what you do, then come see Dr. Hiral Patel of Solid Smiles. We’ll be glad to discreetly assist you in overcoming the bad breath that’s interfering with your personal and professional life!