Having bad breath can compromise your social life, but most people get over it by brushing their teeth on a regular basis. However, a few unlucky ones suffer from persistent bad breath, a condition also known as halitosis. This can be because of poor oral health, or it might be due to illnesses or disease, or even certain medications. Halitosis can worsen through specific lifestyle choices such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or eating strongly flavoured foods.
At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we understand that bad breath can be embarrassing. We therefore will perform a simple oral examination to help diagnose the underlying cause of your bad breath.
Our dentist in W1 will discuss your daily habits with you, including nutrition and medications that you may take. Your dentist will then examine your mouth for signs of decay or gum disease that could be the culprits of your bad breath. If your chronic bad breath cannot be traced to a dental issue or a daily habit, you may need to visit your GP for further examination.
Our dentist in W1 will also suggest having your teeth professionally cleaned, as this will help remove plaque build-up, helping to keep your teeth and gums healthy and freshening up your breath.
Common causes of bad breath
Most cases of bad breath come from food trapped in your teeth and bacteria that build up in your mouth. Together they create a sticky film of plaque over your teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. If not properly removed through brushing, this film will start to release rather unsavoury smells.
Some people experience particularly bad breath in the morning. This is quite normal and happens because the mouth tends to get dry overnight, giving bacteria the chance to thrive. This usually goes away once you’re awake and with proper hydration.
As mentioned earlier, bad breath can also be caused by certain foods, smoking as well as some medications. This type of bad breath is temporary and will resolve after you’ve completed your course of medication or by avoiding those foods.
To find out if your bad breath can be helped with dental treatment, get in touch with us today.