Bad breath is always embarrassing for all of us. No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do for a living, you’ve experienced this at least once in your life.

Also known as halitosis, bad breath is the nasty oral problem for all of us. When you meet people, it puts you in an awkward situation. We try our best to prevent and eliminate it, but sometimes it’s not good enough. Sometimes, we succeed, but most of the time there’s nothing we can do about it. Sometimes it’s completely unavoidable.

Many things can cause bad breath, and here are some of the most common causes.

1. Poor Oral Hygiene

This is one is the most common cause of bad breath and the one that is totally in our control. When we do not care for our teeth and gums, the bad breath problems arise.

When we don’t pay proper attention towards brushing and flossing, the bacteria buildup takes place in the mouth, resulting into tooth decay. Tooth decay starts to smell, and this smelly chain reaction leads to bad breath or halitosis.

So, to ensure proper oral hygiene, brush your teeth twice a day, floss at least once, and also use mouthwash. Also, don’t forget to replace your toothbrush every few months. Visit your dentist for routine checkups every six months.

2. Food You Eat

The food that you eat has a significant effect on your overall health and also on your oral health. The foods you eat have a significant impact on the air you exhale. Food items such as garlic, curry, onions and an endless list of herbs and spices make our breath anything but undesirable. Additionally, the food particles that are stuck in your teeth also adds fuel to fire.

Breath mints and mouthwash after the meal only mask the odor. The only way to prevent bad breath after eating is to avoid the foods that make it bad.

3. Gum Disease

Gum disease is a bacterial infection in the tissue surrounding the teeth. If you are suffering from gum disease, then you are susceptible to bad breath because of the build-up of bacteria around your teeth. If you are not getting rid of bad breath even after regular brushing and flossing, then gum disease may be the culprit. It is advisable to visit your family dentist asap.

4. Dry Mouth

Well, dry mouth is also one of the causes of bad breath. Dry mouth occurs when the flow of saliva in your mouth decreases. Saliva is necessary because it cleans the bacteria from the mouth. Therefore, if you have dry mouth, you are highly prone to bad breath. If you seem to get dry mouth often, chew sugar-free gum to increase your saliva.

5. Your tongue

Well, not to surprise, your tongue is also one of the solid reasons behind your bad breath. The tiny little hairs on your tongue act almost as Velcro. When food particles and bacteria get stuck on this Velcro, your breath turns sour. Use a tongue scraper, because it is designed to clean the extra muck off of your tongue.

Along with the above-mentioned causes, other issues like Undiagnosed Medical Conditions, Smoking, Allergies and Sinus Infections, etc. also leads to bad breath.

Time to See Your Dentist

If you’ve gone through this list and you’ve done everything to get rid of bad breath, and you still have bad breath, then it’s time to visit a dental clinic. After a thorough oral examination, your dentist will conclude whether your mouth is healthy or not. If he finds, something he can treat, he’ll take care of it.

If you think, you need to see a dentist and live in Tysons Corner or a nearby area, the team of dentists at SmilePerfectors is standing by.

To schedule your consultation to fix that bad breath, please visit us at http://smileperfectors.com or visit our dental clinic at 8304-C Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA 22182. To schedule an appointment over the call, please dial 703-356-1200.