What Your Chronic Bad Breath May Be Trying to Tell You

About 50% of people experience bad breath (halitosis) during their lifetime. Chronic bad breath can be awkward, persistent, and not just about garlic bread. If you’re brushing, flossing, and popping mints and the problem still hangs around, your body might be trying to get your attention.

Schedule a family dental appointment with the specialists at SuperTooth™, with offices in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Germantown, Maryland, to discuss causes and treatment options for chronic bad breath.

8 common causes of chronic bad breath

Here are eight reasons for stinky breath:

1. Gum disease

Gum disease affects more than 42% of adults over 30, and it’s a significant risk factor for bad breath. Treating gum disease can do more than freshen up your breath. It can preserve healthy gum tissue, stop gum recession, and lower the risk of permanent tooth loss. 

2. Food particles

Food particles stuck in your teeth, especially those that pack a punch (onions, garlic, other strong spices, coffee, etc.), are common causes of smelly breath. Reduce halitosis by flossing or using mouthwash after meals, especially after eating strongly flavored foods or drinks.

3. Bacteria

An overabundance of mouth bacteria can affect your breath. There are hundreds of different bacteria naturally living in your mouth that cause bad breath. Brushing regularly and having your teeth professionally cleaned helps keep harmful bacteria at bay. 

4. Smoking

Smoking not only stains your teeth, but it can also contribute to bad breath and increase the risk of numerous health concerns. Tobacco can also irritate your gums and boost the chance of gum disease, another common cause of bad breath. Since smoking affects the sense of smell, you might not even realize your breath is unpleasant. 

5. Dry mouth

If you don’t produce enough saliva, you likely have a dry mouth and your saliva might not be cleaning your mouth effectively. Dry mouth can appear because of mouth breathing, some medications, certain medical problems, tobacco, aging, or problems with the salivary glands. 

6. Underlying medical concerns

Some underlying medical problems can contribute to bad breath. Examples include gastric reflux, heartburn, diabetes, sinus conditions, kidney problems, liver disease, and sometimes cancer. You might have bad breath because of infections or swelling in your sinuses, nose, or throat, and postnasal dripping.

7. Insufficient oral hygiene

Not brushing after meals, lack of daily flossing, and skipped six-month dental cleanings and exams are common culprits of bad breath. If you have dentures, aligners, or braces, insufficiently cleaning them can trap odor-causing food particles and bacteria — contributing to bad breath. 

8. Infections

Bad breath-causing infections in your mouth could develop because of tooth decay, mouth sores, gum disease, tooth extraction, or other surgical wounds. 

Keep chronic bad breath at bay

Consider the following bad breath solutions based on what your dentist recommends for you:

• Brush your teeth twice a day 
• Brush your tongue too
• Floss every day
• Replace your toothbrush when it becomes frayed 
• Use bacteria-fighting mouthwash
• Clean dentures, retainers, braces, aligners, and mouthguards regularly
• Seek treatment for gum disease
• Chew sugar-free gum between meals
• Avoid smoking
• Seek treatment for underlying medical conditions and dry mouth
• Consume milder foods
• Have your teeth professionally cleaned

See our experts at SuperTooth at least every six months for professional cleanings and dental exams. 

Schedule a holistic dental appointment at SuperTooth to pinpoint the cause of bad breath and receive freshening solutions. Contact us today by calling our office or booking an appointment online.