No one wants to suffer from chronic bad breath. Odorous breath is not only unpleasant; it can also make it tough to be outgoing and gregarious in social situations.
Our Elmhurst dentists understand that bad breath is a very serious problem for many dental patients—both young and old. The good news is that we are here to help you manage this problem and address the root causes of bad breath!
In general, bad breath develops because oral bacteria are growing and proliferating in the patient’s smile. This may happen because…
You aren’t cleaning away enough plaque every day. When plaque is allowed to sit on your smile undisturbed, it calcifies into a substance called tartar. Tartar is bonded to the tooth, and thus very difficult to remove. The bacteria inside of plaque and tartar feed on the sugars and food particles in your mouth, and emit odors as a byproduct. Your dentist will direct you on how to effectively clean your smile at home, as well as how often you should undergo professional dental cleanings.
You’re suffering from dry mouth. Saliva helps to neutralize plaque and re-mineralize dental enamel. If your smile isn’t sufficiently coated in saliva, you will suffer from dry mouth, and oral bacteria will be able to spread quickly and aggressively.
You’re battling existing oral health infections. The same harmful bacteria that produce unpleasant odors can infect your mouth and cause cavities and gum disease. If you are having trouble cleaning and freshening your smile, it may be because you have serious dental or oral tissue infections. Gum disease, in fact, is one of the leading cause of hard-to-treat bad breath. It is crucial that you seek treatment for these underlying infections in order to conquer bad breath and safeguard your smile.
If you want more information about how bad breath develops, and what you can do to treat it, our Elmhurst dentists are here to help!