What Causes Bad Breath?

Unfortunately, bad breath isn’t something that is going away anytime soon. Once bacteria and acid enter your mouth, it creates a smelly environment. The best way to avoid this is by taking cautionary measures such as brushing your teeth regularly, using mouth wash, eating healthy, and ensuring your hydrated.

Today, we are going to decode common causes of bad breath. Some might surprise you, some may not! 

Nights Out:

While it’s fun and enjoyable to spend time with friends, having too many happy hour drinks can cause your mouth to dry out excessively. Once your mouth is dry, bacteria forms leaving your mouth foul smelling. Instead, enjoy your nights out without caffeine, tobacco, spicy food, or excessive alcohol. If you do drink alcohol, make sure you drink plenty of water as well. 

Your Tongue:

Every beverage and food that enters your mouth, passes by your tongue before it reaches your stomach. This makes your tongue an easy home for bacteria that’s been left behind.  After you’ve finished eating, using a tongue scraper and some tooth paste is a great way to remove excess bacteria that could cause bad breath. While you're brushing your teeth every morning and night, make sure you don’t forget about your tongue in the process. Scrape it!

Not Eating Carbs:

This one might surprise you but it’s true! Replacing carbs for protein rich diets causes your body to create ketones. Ketones are a leading cause of bad breath. So how do you fix this? You really can’t unless you start adding carbs into your diet.  Many people will try to mask the smell by having breath mints, mint breath spray, and sugar-free gum at all times. Try to drink more water as well, if you don't want to eat carbs. 

Having a Cold or Infection:

Colds can be annoying, and we're going to add another annoyance to them – bad breath! Typically, when you have a cold, your nose becomes stuffy or tends to drain more mucus down your throat, and what loves to feed on mucus? You guessed it, bacteria. Try using mouth wash throughout the day to help remove excess bacteria from your mouth.

There are many instances you may not be able to brush your teeth or remove the excess of bacteria standing around in our throats and mouth. For that, ensuring you have mints or sugar-free minty fresh gum handy throughout the day will help keep you from having embarrassing bad breath conversations.

Another way to help reduce bacteria from forming in your mouth is by visiting your local dentist for a bi-annual checkup for a routine cleaning.  A good cleaning will remove plaque, which is bacteria that’s between your gums and teeth.

For questions about gum health or if you suffer any of the symptoms listed here, contact Smiles by Bergen Dental and make an appointment. Smiles by Bergen Dental is conveniently located in Midland Park New Jersey, we're within minutes from Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ramsey, Allendale, Saddle River, and Ho-Ho-Kus.