Dental Checkups and Cleaning Can Help With Bad Breath

Visiting our office for dental checkups and cleaning on a bi-annual basis can help with bad breath. When bad breath occurs, it can be frustrating trying to mask the odors with brushing, mouth rinsing, and chewing mint flavored gum. If you attempt all of these methods and still have persistent bad breath, you may need to visit our office in Carmel for frequent dental check-ups and cleaning. When you visit our office, we will remove leftover plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums that can be contributing to bad breath. If you are sick of living with smelly odors, visit our office to learn more.

Why Bad Breath Occurs

There are many reasons for bad breath. Most of the causes of bad breath have to do with oral health. Below are a few of those causes:

Improper Brushing and Flossing

When you do not brush and floss every day, food particles remain stuck between your teeth and they begin collecting stinky bacteria. If food does not get dislodged, it can begin to rot which adds to bad breath. When you do not visit for dental checkups and cleaning, plaque remains on your teeth. When plaque is not removed, it turns into tartar which is a harder, stickier film. Tartar can harbor bacteria under your gum lines and in between your teeth. This combination can create persistent bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is another common reason for bad breath. When your mouth is not producing enough saliva, it is not cleansed of bacteria and food between meals. There are many causes of dry mouth. These causes can be explained by your doctor or dentist. When you find remedies to dry mouth, your breath will become better smelling. You can also try increasing your fluid intake and chew sugarless gum in the meantime to help increase saliva production.

Foods with an Unpleasant Odor

Foods that smell strong, like garlic, can leave an unpleasant odor in your mouth for days at a time.

Smoking and Tobacco Use

This is a very common cause for stale bad breath. When you visit our office for dental checkups and cleaning, we can suggest some ideas that may help you quit. Not only does tobacco use cause bad breath, but it can also harm your oral tissues and stain your teeth.

Sickness

If you are ill, bad breath can be a sign. Infections contribute to bad breath. If you visit for dental checkups and cleaning and still notice you have bad breath afterward, you should visit your doctor for a checkup to make sure you are not sick.

These are a few of the reasons for bad breath. Dental checkups and cleaning at our Carmel dental office can help no matter what the cause of your bad breath. A cleaner mouth improves smell, even if the reason for odors is medical. When you have persistent bad breath, any level of improvement is important. Visit our office to learn more about keeping up to date with appointments and preventing bad breath.