Why Do I Have Bad Breath?

Are you constantly self-conscious of the smell of your breath? Do you find yourself repeatedly reaching for a breath mint because you know your breath is less than ideal? Bad breath is something that we all experience from time to time. For most of us, we typically experience bad breath after certain foods and drinks. Once you thoroughly brush and floss your teeth, the odor is usually gone. If you find yourself experiencing bad breath on a regular basis, your mouth may be giving you a warning about a problem with your oral health.

Causes of Bad Breath

Poor Oral Hygiene
One of the most common causes of bad breath is a lack of oral hygiene. This can be something as simple as not brushing your teeth properly or not flossing. Each time we eat or drink, bacteria are introduced into the mouth and linger on and between the teeth. If you are not cleaning your teeth properly, the bacteria will begin to have an odor. Be sure you are brushing for two minutes at least twice a day and using dental floss daily.

Untreated Tooth Decay
If we have recommended a treatment for tooth decay, it is important that you receive treatment in a timely manner. Delaying treatment can not only lead to further progression of the problem, but it can also cause bad breath. Similar to decayed food that has an odor, your decaying teeth can also smell unpleasant.

Gum Disease
Although this common condition doesn’t have very many warning signs, one of the few is bad breath. If you experience regular problems with bad breath, be sure to check your gums for signs of redness and inflammation.

If you notice that you have frequent bad breath, we suggest calling our office located in Northridge, CA to schedule an appointment. If you have a problem with your oral health, we want to determine the issue and create a treatment plan as soon as possible. We look forward to helping you restore your oral health.