Bad Breath Treatment in Langley
Professional Care for Fresher Breath and Better Oral Health
Understanding Bad Breath
Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be embarrassing, especially around your loved ones or in a business meeting. It is no wonder that store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products designed to fight bad breath and keep our mouths feeling fresh.
However, many of these products are temporary measures and do not address the cause of bad breath directly. Certain foods, health conditions, and oral habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve your breath with consistent proper oral care. If simple self-care techniques do not solve the issue, you may need to book an appointment with our office, as there may be an underlying cause requiring professional bad breath treatment.
When Bad Breath Needs Dental Care
Bad breath odours vary depending on the source or underlying cause. Most patients only have a mild case of bad breath that can improve with a proper oral care routine at home, but some cases require a dental professional to intervene.
If you are searching for bad breath treatment in Langley or a bad breath dentist in Langley, our team is here to help identify and treat the root cause of the issue. While it is important to check all concerns with our office just to be safe, the following are some of the main causes of bad breath. Common Causes of Bad Breath:
Food
The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth can increase bacteria and cause a foul odour. Eating certain foods, such as onions, garlic, and certain spices, can cause bad breath. After you digest these foods, they enter your bloodstream, are carried to your lungs, and affect your breath.
Tobacco
Smoking causes its own unpleasant mouth odour. Smokers and oral tobacco users are also more likely to have gum disease, another source of bad breath linked to smoking and bad breath concerns.
Dental Hygiene
If you do not floss and brush at least twice daily, food particles remain in your mouth and may cause bad breath. A colourless, sticky film of bacteria called plaque forms on your teeth. If it is not brushed away, plaque can irritate your gums and eventually form plaque-filled pockets between your teeth and gums, also known as periodontitis. Your tongue can also trap bacteria that produce odours. Dentures that are not cleaned regularly can harbour odour-causing bacteria and food particles as well. Proper oral hygiene for bad breath is important to reduce plaque buildup and bad breath issues.
Dry Mouth
Saliva helps cleanse our mouths by removing particles that cause odours. A condition called dry mouth, or xerostomia, can contribute to bad breath because saliva production is reduced. Dry mouth and bad breath are commonly connected, especially during sleep or due to certain medical conditions. Chronic dry mouth may also lead to bad breath from dry mouth if not properly managed.
Medications
Some medications can indirectly produce bad breath by contributing to dry mouth, while others are broken down in the body and release chemicals that are carried on our breath.
Infections
Bad breath can be caused by surgical wounds after oral surgery, such as tooth removal, or because of tooth decay, gum disease, or mouth sores. In some cases, patients may experience bad breath after oral surgery or ongoing bad breath from infections that require professional care.
Mouth, Nose, and Throat Conditions
Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria. It can also be caused by infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses, or throat.
Other Causes
Diseases, such as some cancers, and conditions such as metabolic disorders can cause a distinctive odour because of the chemicals they produce. Chronic reflux of stomach acids, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, is also associated with bad breath.
How to Improve Bad Breath
Some patients worry about their breath even though they have little or no mouth odour, while others have bad breath and do not realize it. Because it is difficult to assess how your own breath smells, ask a close friend or relative to confirm if you suspect you may have bad breath.
If you have bad breath, review your oral hygiene habits. Try making lifestyle changes, such as brushing your teeth and tongue after eating, using dental floss, and drinking plenty of water. These steps may help you understand how to get rid of bad breath and improve your daily oral care routine.
If your bad breath persists, call our office for bad breath treatment in Langley, halitosis treatment, and guidance on when to see a dentist for bad breath.
