Most people don’t realize they have bad breath until someone else points it out to them. Rather than trying to mask it with breath mints and chewing gum, dental professional Dr. Gibbs of Smile Glen Ellyn points out that fixing the problem at its root is the better approach. Here are five possible causes of your bad breath.
Bad Technique for Brushing or Flossing
When you floss, make sure to move the string slightly into the gum line, and get right up against each tooth’s surface. When brushing, hold your brush horizontally, and use short strokes back and forth to do the job.
Wisdom Teeth
Your wisdom teeth and gum overgrowth on them can cause food particles to become trapped, which can lead to infection and bad breath.
Mouth Infections
If you have an infection in your mouth, the decaying bacteria from it can release odors like sulfur, and wreak havoc with your breath.
Tongue
Unfortunately, your tongue is not exempt from accumulating bacteria like your teeth do. A tongue scraper, which can be purchased at any drugstore, will help eliminate this source of bad breath.
Medicine
Some drugs, such as antihistamines and high blood pressure medications, cause dry mouth. When that happens, there’s not enough saliva in the mouth to flush out dead cells, food acids, and bacteria.
If you’ve noticed a sudden negative change in your breath, we strongly recommend giving Dr. Gibbs a call schedule your next cleaning and examination. Don’t let bad breath affect your confidence!