What Your Chronic Bad Breath May Be Telling You

It happens to all of us every now and then.

We catch a whiff of our own breath, or someone close to us looks at us with a funny expression, and we realize that our breath is … let’s just say it doesn’t smell the greatest.

So we brush our teeth and gargle some mouthwash, and we’re back to normal.

But if this problem keeps happening over and over, it may be a sign we have a deeper problem. Chronic bad breath is often just a symptom of another health condition we need to address.

Here at Portrait Dental, our team treats many patients with bad breath. (After all, about 30% of the population has halitosis or chronic bad breath.) Here are a few things your bad breath may be trying to tell you.

It’s time to brush and floss

One common cause of bad breath is having pieces of food remain in your mouth. These food particles make a perfect spot for odors and bacteria to hang out and cause problems. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day can get these food particles out of your mouth — and reduce the amount of bacteria — so your breath gets back to normal.

Check for gum disease

Speaking of bacteria, they can also collect around the base of your teeth, which irritates your gums and causes them to pull away from your teeth, creating pockets where even more bacteria can collect. As they continue to multiply, they release substances that produce a bad odor, causing your bad breath.

This is part of gum disease or periodontal disease. Cleaning out the bacteria, reducing the pockets, and continuing to brush and floss can reverse the gum disease — and your bad breath.

Look for underlying problems

Bad breath can also be caused by a number of other underlying health conditions. These include diabetes, chronic reflux of stomach acids, tonsil stones (they can be covered with bacteria), postnasal drip, and some cancers.

If the obvious solutions don’t make a difference in your breath, it may be time to get your primary care provider involved to start considering some of these additional causes. 

If your bad breath is causing a problem in your life, it’s time to take a deeper look. Dr. Minh D. Nguyen and our team at Portrait Dental are here to help. To make an appointment, call our Katy, Texas office at 501-381-1621, or use our convenient online scheduler to book a time today.