The unfortunate truth is that bad breath is going to occur despite our best efforts from time to time. If, however, you’ve noticed that bad breath has developed into a chronic problem for you, then we encourage you to reach out to our Novato dentists for help and support. Chronic bad breath can often indicate serious oral health issues. Keep reading to learn more…
Types of Malodorous Breath
Not all types of bad breath are created equal. Temporary bad breath, for example, occurs when we consume something pungent—think of eating garlic, onions, and meat, for example. Generally speaking, you don’t need to be concerned about this. More concerning is bad breath that is constant and hard to treat. This often occurs due to a build-up of oral bacteria in your mouth. Patients with cavities and periodontal disease, for example, will notice a stale, unpleasant odor that just doesn’t go away.
Short-term Relief
If you find that you are dealing with unwanted bad breath, there are a couple of things that you can do to refresh your smile. Drink plenty of water, and rinse your mouth vigorously in order to dislodge dental debris. You can also use floss to clear away any food particles that are stuck between your teeth (floss is preferable to wooden or metal toothpicks). If you want to freshen your breath with mints or gum, just make sure to look for formulations that are sugar-free. The same oral bacteria that cause bad breath use sugar for fuel.
Long-term Treatments
It is possible to achieve lasting relief from chronic bad breath; it all comes down to restoring the health of your smile. Our team will eliminate existing cavities and treat periodontal disease to clear away bacteria and damaged dental tissues. We’ll also talk about treatments and strategies to minimize dry mouth, as an arid environment is ideal for harmful oral bacteria.
Our Novato dentists are here to help you reclaim a fresh and healthy smile about which you feel confident. Please feel free to contact our team to learn more and to schedule a personal consultation!