If you suffer from persistent bad breath, then you know how embarrassing and frustrating this problem can be. Treating bad breath can seem daunting, but our Toluca Lake dentists are here to help you through the process.
Chronic bad breath is generally caused by an overabundance of oral bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria, as you may already know, feed on sugars and refined carbohydrates. When you eat or drink something, bacteria feed on the debris and start to grow and multiply. A byproduct of this process is unpleasant odors.
So, one reason that you may be experiencing bad breath is because the bacteria in your mouth have been allowed to grow out of control. In this case, it is critical that you undergo a professional dental cleaning so that our team can give your smile a fresh slate; at-home oral hygiene, while effective for clearing away newly developed plaque, is not sufficient for dealing with compounded accumulation.
You may also suffer from bad breath due to an existing oral infection. Cavities can create unwanted odors and leave a bad taste in your mouth, literally. Periodontal disease—a serious infection of the gum tissue—is also known for causing bad breath. In these cases you’ll likely find that it is hard for you to freshen your mouth even if you have just brushed, flossed, or used mouth rinse. As you would imagine, in order to overcome this type of bad breath, you really need to address the underlying oral infection.
Using mints and gum to cover bad breath may be somewhat effective in the short-term, but if these things contain sugar, they may actually exacerbate the problem over time. So, if you start to notice that your breath feels or smells stale, reach out to your dentist for help before it gets serious.
Give our Toluca Lake dentists a call to get more information and schedule a consultation with our team!