Posted October 15, 2019 in Oral Hygiene
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Once in a while, we all have the occasional day where our breath might be a little too much for anyone close to us to handle. Maybe we had an onion and garlic bagel that morning or a puppy got into the bathroom and chewed up our toothbrush. Sometimes, though, chronic bad breath can also be an issue. While there may be dozens of causes of chronic bad breath, the best way to avoid the problem altogether is to maintain good oral hygiene practices.
What Causes Bad Breath?
The most common cause of bad breath is food. Garlic, onion, fish—at one point or another we have all noticed someone who had a particularly pungent lunch and brought part of it back with them to school or the office. But you do not need to avoid these foods altogether; rather, you can add another brief step into your dental health regime that will eliminate most of the post-lunch breath you have been suffering from.
That step is using mouthwash or carrying a travel-size toothbrush with you to give your mouth a refresher after your meal. If you forget to grab either of these tools, sugar-free gum is a good last-resort way to break down all the residual food after a meal.
You might have noticed your breath producing more odor than usual when you are fighting a sickness like strep throat or other bacterial infections in the mouth. But infections can also develop when you do not maintain proper oral hygiene. The breakdown of food in your mouth fosters bacteria growth. If that bacteria is not removed through regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, then it is likely to take root between your gums and teeth. In the most extreme cases, dental extraction or root canal procedures may be necessary.
As these leftover particles of food rot in your mouth, bad breath inevitably takes hold. It is likely at this point that the development of decay and tartar will be so severe that you will need to visit a dentist to have it removed with a deep cleaning. Since plaque and tartar buildup is not easily removed wi