This post from Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo offers some answers to frequent questions about bad breath.
Q. My wife says my breath is terrible, but I brush twice a day. Shouldn’t that be enough?
A. Bacteria can multiply and stink in hidden crevices that can only be reached with floss. Time to start flossing. If your breath hasn’t improved in a few months, make an appointment so we can explore other possible causes of your halitosis.
Also keep in mind that brushing just the teeth may not remove food particles between the teeth and up in the gums. Gently brushing the gums, sides of the mouth and the tongue in addition to the teeth may make the difference.
Q. My breath seems to get worse during hay fever season. What’s up with that?
A. Allergies can change mouth odor in a couple of ways. First, anything that stimulates post-nasal drip can be a trigger because bacteria at the back of the throat mixes with the mucous and exudes a smelly odor as it breaks down. Second, hay fever medications often cause dry mouth which can bring about gross breath. Antihistamines can lessen post-nasal drip so this is a catch-22. If you take antihistamines, drink water frequently throughout the day to keep your mouth wet, suck on sugar-free mints to stimulate saliva production and rinse with a non-alcohol mouth rinse.
Q. What health conditions can result in bad breath?
A. As discussed before, any condition that lessens saliva production can cause halitosis. It is also a persistent side effect of diabetes, kidney failure, and liver failure. Of course, if your kidneys or liver is failing, you have bigger problems.
Q. Why did my breath become appalling when I went on a strict low-carb diet?
A. Ketones were most likely the culprit. Ketones are produced when the body digests fat—which is usually the goal of a low-carb plan. On the flip side, sounds like you weren’t cheating!
At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo, the dental health of each of our patients is always our top concern. Our services include dental implants and clear braces from Invisalign. Schedule an appointment today.
Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:
801-374-0070
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604
