Common Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath can be an embarrassment, but it can also reveal critical information about your dental health. If you are suffering from chronic bad breath, a checkup with our Beverly Hills dentist just may be in order.

The most common cause of bad breath is bacteria. Oral bacteria tend to build up in plaque, the sticky, colorless film that is constantly forming on your teeth. Once there, it can irritate your gums, trigger the onset of gum disease and decay teeth. Treating any dental diseases that are present can help eliminate bad breath and leave your smile more attractive.

Smoking is another common cause of bad breath. Nicotine, tar and other chemicals in smoke tend to accumulate in the mouth, and they can result in a particularly distinctive odor. Bad breath caused by smoking can be difficult to combat without quitting. Smoking can also leave you more prone to developing gum disease, dry mouth and other dental health problems.

Sinus drainage may lead to bad breath as bacteria and discharge drain into the throat. You may suffer from a chronically bad taste along with the bad breath. Seeking treatment for your sinus infection or sinus problems can help reduce sinus-related bad breath.

Although not generally a cause of chronic bad breath, your diet may be triggering occasional bouts of bad breath. Garlic, onion, curry, dairy and other strong-smelling foods can break down into bad smelling compounds. These odors can take from a few hours to a day or more to work their way through your system.

Because bad breath may also be linked to certain serious health conditions, a comprehensive evaluation with our Beverly Hills periodontal treatments specialist can help rule out serious problems and identify treatments that can leave you breathing more freely.

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