These 10 Habits are the Reason You Have Bad Breath

Cosmetic Dentist Serving Lakewood, Denver, Golden & Nearby Colorado

Share:

These 10 Habits are the Reason You Have Bad Breath | Denver Bad breath is embarrassing, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get the smell escaping your lips to go away. Halitosis (bad breath) can be caused by several issues which may be out of your control such as genetics, acid reflux, diabetes, sinus problems and certain medications. Gum disease is a common cause of bad breath, but periodontal treatments can help restore good oral health and stop halitosis. However, there are many other reasons why your breath might smell, and there are ways you can fight bad breath or prevent it from happening such as changing some of these key habits.

Your chronic halitosis could be the result of one or more of these everyday rituals:

  1. You Don’t Brush and Floss Every Day—Brushing and flossing every day is the best way to prevent bad breath and maintain a healthy mouth. If you struggle with halitosis, this is the first habit you’ll need to change. Make sure you also scrape off your tongue to get rid of any bacteria build up.
  2. You Breathe from Your Mouth—Breathing mostly through your mouth causes your saliva to evaporate, which leads to dry mouth, which then prevents food particles from being washed away down your throat, leading to bad breath.
  3. You Eat Mouth Bacteria-Altering Foods—You likely know that coffee, onions and garlic can cause halitosis, but you should also avoid cabbage, brussel sprouts and other similar smelly foods.
  4. You Have a Low-Carb Diet—Some researchers at Yeshiva University found that those who were on a low-carb diet versus a low-fat diet were more likely to have bad breath.
  5. You Drink a Lot of Alcohol—Similar to mouth breathing, alcohol dries out the saliva in your mouth, and when the alcohol is metabolized by your body, it leads to bad breath.
  6. You Don’t Drink Enough Water—Your mouth relies on saliva to consistently get rid of food particles throughout your day. When you’re dehydrated, dry mouth sets in and causes a distinct odor.
  7. You Skip Meals—The amount of saliva in your mouth comes into play again when you skip a meal or two.
  8. You Take Medications that Cause Dry Mouth—This habit is probably out of your control as the medications known to cause dry mouth include diuretics, antipsychotics, antihistamines and muscle relaxers.
  9. You Have High Blood Sugar—Breath that smells sweet could be a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. This condition can be deadly and may lead to organ failure or a heart attack, but it only occurs in those with type 1 diabetes. If your breath smells sugary, you may have undiagnosed diabetes.
  10. You Smoke or Chew Tobacco—You know tobacco products are deadly, but they also produce foul breath.

If you struggle with bad breath, schedule your dental exam with our dentist in Denver today at (303) 988-9060. Scott Greenhalgh, DDS serves patients in Denver, Lakewood, Golden and nearby areas of Colorado.