If you suffer from halitosis, you may wonder about the causes of bad breath. At Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza, located in Houston, TX, we educate our clients to practice good oral hygiene at home. With regular cleanings, checkups, and proper maintenance at home, you can eliminate bad breath.
Dietary Causes of Bad Breath
What you eat affects how your breath smells because you break down all the food you eat in your mouth. Foods with strong odors, such as onions or garlic, can contribute to halitosis. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash can improve your breath. However, until your body metabolizes the food, the smell will not dissipate completely.
Poor Habits That Lead to Bad Breath
Causes of bad breath include poor dental hygiene. If you do not brush and floss every day, food particles build up in your mouth. This leads to bacterial growth between your teeth, tongue, and gums. Typically, antibacterial mouth rinses reduce bacteria.
Ask your Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza dentist about proper denture cleaning habits to avoid bacterial buildup on dentures. Our family dentistry practice provides dental care for children, parents, and grandparents for generations of healthy smiles.
Avoid Smoking
If you smoke or chew tobacco, stop immediately to eliminate bad breath, compromised taste buds, stained teeth, and gum irritation.
Health Problems Related to Bad Breath
Some causes of bad breath indicate more serious health concerns. If you experience bad breath constantly, you may have periodontal disease. When bacteria collect on the teeth, toxins begin to form. These toxins irritate your gum. Therefore, it is important to get the proper treatment for gum disease to prevent permanent damage to your jaw or gums.
Cavities and yeast infections also produce bad breath. We install dental fillings to protect infected teeth and sealants to prevent further decay.
Chronic dry mouth or xerostomia can cause halitosis. You need saliva to keep your mouth moist and neutralize plaque-causing bacteria. Saliva also rinses away dead cells on the cheeks, gums, and tongue. If you do not remove these dead cells, they decompose in place, causing bad breath.
Diseases causing halitosis include pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, and respiratory tract infections.
What Causes Bad Breath in Children?
Causes of bad breath in children include oral and non-oral issues. Our pediatric dentists at Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza can assess your child to find out what’s causing the bad breath. The most common cause of halitosis in kids involves bacteria buildup at the back of the tongue, under the gum line, or between the teeth.
When oral epithelial cells get trapped in crevices and plaque, it can cause significant halitosis. That is why you should bring your kids in for regular cleanings. Regular fluoride treatments may reverse some damage to your teeth. Make an appointment with your Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza dentist today to learn what other services can help you improve your oral health.
When the bacteria in kids’ mouths break down methionine and cysteine molecules, they produce hydrogen sulfide and lead to bad breath. These compounds smell like rotten eggs. Another cause of bad breath in kids derives from insufficient saliva production. Increasing the amount of protein and reducing carbohydrates in your kids’ diets create an increase in oral pH. A more alkaline environment produces even more dead skin cells.
Dental Care for Fresh Breath in Houston, TX
Call Lovett Dental Meyerland Plaza at 281-974-3434 today to schedule an appointment to discuss the causes of bad breath with a licensed and insured dentist in Houston, TX. Let us help you breathe easier by resolving your halitosis and giving you a bright, clean smile.
