BAD BREATH, WHY DO YOU HAVE IT?

Many of my patients, friends, and family members cannot believe they actually have bad breath!  This is an issue we all suffer from and wonder about on a regular basis.  I would love to share important information about its causes, long term effects, and how to manage it on a daily basis.  Lets begin our SMILE TALK today with details on what is really causing your bad breath. And over the next couple of blog entries we'll touch more on how it may affect our overall health long term and what we should consider doing to manage it over time. 

BAD BREATH!

The main cause of bad breath is BACTERIA!  Our mouth is home to various forms of bacteria, some of which require oxygen to stay alive while others exist perfectly without it.  We house about 1000 types of bacteria in our oral cavity.  Some of these, as stated before, do not need oxygen to survive.  They embed themselves in the oxygen-free pockets within the gums and on the surface of the tongue. If left unchecked these germs will thrive, mulitply, and eventually cause malodor ( halitosis ) in the mouth.

Bacteria levels in the mouth may rise when they become disrupted.  The bacteria causing bad breath love to collect in the wet and warm areas between the teeth and gums.  They love to feed off the food that lingers behind after your meal or drink.  Certain types of foods contain high levels of protein.  These expel a by-product known as ketones.  These ketones lead to halitosis and are typically found in protein rich foods such as fish, red meat, and beans.  Other sources of protein are dairy foods and anything containing sugar.

MORE CAUSES OF BAD BREATH

• Certain Foods:  Foods containing onions and garlic can linger in the body as they are broken down and may cause bad breath for up to 72 hours after consuming them.
• Dry Mouth:  Saliva contains oxygen and is necessary to break down foods.  When saliva flow is diminished or absent this process is interupted.
• Poor Oral Home Care:  Not caring for the mouth properly by brushing and flossing at least twice per day may lead to periodontal disease, a perfect breading ground for bad breath-causing bacteria.
• Changes In Medical History:  Bad breath can be a result of changes in body chemistry, dietary changes, medications, or an altered medical condition. These may include cancer, diabetes, infections, and acid reflux.
• Your Bite:  As mentioned in my previous blog entries, a bad bite may result in heavier stresses on certain teeth, leading to a breakdown in the soft and hard tissues supporting these.  As a result, movement of these teeth is noted.  This allows for bacteria to colonize around the wet, dark, and warm pockets surrounding these teeth, resulting in bad breath.
• Ill-Fitting Crowns and Veneers:  Poor fitting restorations result in gaps between these and the teeth, allowing plaque and tartar to leak into these spaces, resulting in bad breath.
• Stomach Issues:  Problems here may result in the presence of high levels of halitosis-causing bacteria
• White Tongue:  Anything white or yellow sitting on the top surface of the tongue indicates a film of bacteria and other by-products that cause bad breath.  The tongue needs to be cleaned and scraped daily.

Lets begin the management of bad breath by first making sure we understand what it is and what may be causing it.  Stay tuned for a soon-to-come entry that will allow you to later understand how bad breath may be associated with long-term conditions and what we can do to prevent or minimize it.

Remember, we are here to assist you in creating that "Smile You'd Be Proud To Wear...ANYHWERE!"