What Your Chronic Bad Breath Is Trying to Tell You

Most of us have bad breath on occasion, whether due to something we ate (hello, garlic) or maybe our morning breath just isn’t as fresh as we’d like. In these cases, it’s nothing a good brushing or mouthwash can’t handle.

For 30% of people however, bad breath is a more constant problem. Rather than viewing the condition as something to be embarrassed about, let’s turn this around and view it as more of an actionable item. 

From where we stand, chronic bad breath often signals a dental issue that we should investigate and address for the benefit of your long-term oral health. Our dentists at Baton Rouge Perio — Dr. Jenny Herman and, Dr. Barry Biner — are familiar with the primary culprits behind ongoing issues with bad breath, and we review some of those here.

Bad breath and bacteria

Bad breath can come from many sources, and often it’s just a passing issue. From coffee to cigarettes, there are many foods or habits that aren’t doing your breath any favors. 

While these are outside sources of bad breath, we want to focus on the culprits inside your mouth — bacteria. At any given time, you have 700 different types of bacteria in your mouth — good and bad — and the number of bacteria can be counted in terms of billions.

When these bacteria are balanced, your breath should smell fine and your teeth and gums should be in good shape. If, however, the bacteria tip more toward harmful varieties, the opposite is true. 

So, let’s look at what causes harmful and odor-causing bacteria to take over.

Not properly cleaning your teeth

The first thing we look at when you have chronic bad breath is your daily dental regimen. If you’re not cleaning your teeth properly, food can get caught between teeth and rot, which can lead to odor and bacteria buildup.

This is why we emphasize flossing and rinsing as well as brushing. A toothbrush does a great job on the surfaces in your mouth, but flossing and rinsing can dislodge those foods that your toothbrush can't get to.

Gum disease and bad breath

One of the first signs of gum disease, which affects 46% of adults in the United States aged 30 and older, is bad breath. Gum disease, also called periodontitis, occurs when bacteria in your mouth get under your gum line and begin to eat away at the hard and soft tissues. This activity leads to a release of gasses from the bacteria, which can cause bad breath.

Tooth decay and bad breath

Nearly 90% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 64 have tooth decay, which is caused by bacteria. Just like with gum disease, as these bacteria erode your teeth, they release gasses that can impact your breath.

Dry mouth and bad breath

Another issue that can lead to chronic bad breath is dry mouth. One of the ways that your breath remains fresh is thanks to saliva, which helps a great deal in keeping your mouth clean.

People with dry mouth — a condition that affects about 22% of the global population — lack sufficient saliva in their mouths, placing them well on the path to chronic bad breath.

As you can see, there are many potential suspects behind chronic bad breath, and some of them indicate a larger issue that can threaten your teeth and gums. So, for your social and dental health, we recommend that you come see us so we can get to the bottom of — and treat — your halitosis.

To get started, please schedule an appointment at our office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, today.