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Fighting Halitosis

Posted on 7/15/2024 by Nancy Shiba DDS

Man checking his bad breath by cusping his hand in front of his mouth

Of all of the embarrassing things that people can suffer from, halitosis sits close to the top of this humiliating list. No one wants to have bad breath because it makes people think of ill health or failing dental hygiene. However, if you suffer from halitosis (bad breath), there are ways that you can combat it and keep your teeth and gums healthy.

How Did I Get Halitosis?

If you suffer from bad breath, you should know that the main cause of bad breath is bacteria. You always have bacteria in your mouth. Some of the bacteria in your mouth are beneficial because they help you break down and digest your food. However, some of the bacteria are harmful because they cause both gum disease and dental caries.

Because bad breath is caused by bacteria, the fewer bad bacteria in your mouth, the less likely your breath will smell horrible. Most toothpaste and mouthwash help eliminate bad bacteria. However, there are other things you can use or do to combat bad breath.

Remain Hydrated

The more hydrated your mouth is, the less likely you are to have bad breath. That is because the bacteria that cause halitosis multiply in drier conditions. When you are hydrated, your saliva functions as a broom for bacteria because once the bacteria is swallowed, it is no longer a hazard to your breath.

Check Your Medication

If you take medication each day, you may want to look at those labels because some of the medications you take for allergies or asthma, a heart condition, or a condition for mental health may cause dry mouth. If your mouth is always dry, you may want to continue to hydrate with water, but add xylitol to help you produce more saliva. Also, you may want to add sugar-free gum or sugar-free lozenges to your solutions for dry mouth because they also aid in saliva production.

Not sure if you are doing everything you can to get rid of dry mouth? We can help. Reach out to us today to make an appointment with our dentist.