You brush your teeth and floss every morning before work thinking you’re good to go. After sitting down at your desk, your colleague walks by and says good morning. As you return the phrase, they step back for a moment and reach into their pocket. “Gum?” They offer.

Even if you brush regularly, bacteria can still be quite insidious. If you don’t know the places it likes to live, you may not think to even check there. That’s why your dentist in Ann Arbor is here to get your breath smelling good again.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, affects around 50 percent of adults at some point in their lives. Its main source is from bacteria that lives in your mouth. As you eat foods throughout the day, bacteria feeds on food debris leftover, allowing it to grow and multiply. Foods like garlic, onions, coffee, or other foods and beverages that add strong aromas or dry your mouth out make this much easier for bacteria to leave behind their stench.

However, if you’ve changed all your habits and still experience bad breath, it could also be a sign of gum disease. This is caused by the sticky, cavity-causing bacteria known as plaque. Make a visit to your dentist and mention this so they can provide appropriate treatment.

What Habits Cause the Worst Breath?

Furthermore, if your mouth has an infection, it can cause chronic bad breath even after flossing and brushing. If your dentist rules any mouth disease, it could be something else such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, and liver or kidney disease. At that point, it’s a question for your general practitioner.

If you are a smoker or use tobacco products of any kind, you’ll find yourself vulnerable to several other problems as well as bad breath. Smoking reduces your ability to taste, irritates your gum tissues, and puts you at higher risk for gum disease. You also may not even notice your breath is bad since it affects your ability to smell. It’s just one habit out of many you may need to kick if you want to rid bad breath.

What Can I Include in My Oral Care Routine?

During your regular oral care regimen, make brushing your tongue a regular addition. Look at the back of your tongue the next time you brush. You’ll notice a brown or white coating. That is where most of the bad breath bacteria likes to grow, so removing this with your toothbrush or a tongue scraper can make a huge difference. Along with brushing and flossing twice a day, use an over-the-counter mouthwash during and in between brushing to stave off bacteria.

During your day, make sure to drink plenty of water to wash away food debris and loose bacteria from your mouth. Eating foods that produce a lot of saliva such as fruits and vegetables will also help remove bacteria. Try a sugar-free gum approved by the ADA to reduce plaque acids in the mouth.

Don’t let bacteria keep you down. Take the steps to better breath with your dentist in Ann Arbor today!

About the Author

Dr. James Olsen, DDS, earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Michigan before earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Eventually, he pursued advanced training in many facets of dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies to further his education. To learn more about his practice, contact him at (734) 996-0200 or visit his website.