Why It’s Important to Seek Treatment for Persistent Bad Breath

Everybody has bad breath or halitosis occasionally, usually due to eating something that is extremely strongly flavoured. Although it might be inconvenient it’s nothing to worry about and you simply have to wait for the food to be eliminated from your body to cure this problem. Persistent bad breath is quite a different matter and does require further investigation. There are several reasons why you might develop bad breath but the most common is simply due to poor oral hygiene.

Common Causes of Bad Breath

If you sometimes forget to brush twice daily and to floss every day then it’s more likely that plaque and food will remain trapped in between and around your teeth and on your tongue. This increases the levels of bacteria in your mouth that will feed of the food particles, creating toxins and noxious odours. It can also be a problem if you wear dentures or braces and don’t keep them thoroughly clean.

Other causes of bad breath include smoking or using tobacco products or having untreated dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease can cause bad breath and is caused by plaque building up on the teeth as the toxins produced by these bacteria will infect and inflame your gums. It’s also possible for bad breath to be caused by yeast infections or it could be that you have a condition called dry mouth or xerostomia. A healthy mouth needs plenty of saliva to keep it clean and fresh and dry mouth can be extremely uncomfortable. Unfortunately a drier mouth allows bacteria to thrive, which in turn increases the risk of dental problems.

Bad breath can also be a sign of an underlying medical problem which is why it’s so important to come and see a dentist in Watton to get a proper diagnosis.

How We Can Help You

When you book an appointment with our Watton dentist you will receive a thorough oral examination to determine the cause of your bad breath and to recommend treatment if necessary. It’s also a nice idea to book an appointment with our hygienist to have your teeth professionally cleaned if it has been a while since you last had this done. This will remove any hardened plaque or tartar and is great way to get fresher breath. If we think your halitosis may be due to poor oral hygiene then we can advise you how to improve this. It could be that you are brushing regularly but are simply missing out certain areas in your mouth or are perhaps not flossing properly. Oral hygiene education is an important part of our practice, so please don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If we cannot find any reason for your bad breath then we will suggest you visit your GP to rule out any medical problems.

Don’t put up with your halitosis any longer as we can help you have beautifully fresh breath. Just call Clarence House Dental Care on 01953 882777.