What Causes Bad Breath?

April 1st, 2014

Last time we published a great article on organic methods for natural breath fresheners. Today, we are following up with an article about the root of the problem—what causes bad breath in the first place?

At Carter Periodontics we have helped many clients overcome mild gingivitis to advanced cases of gum disease that require tooth extractions and TN gum surgery. Our Clarksville TN dentist, Dr. Timothy Carter, is a leading Tennessee periodonist and can help you stop gum disease before it ruins your lovely smile.

Besides simply eating foods with strong odors, poor habits are one of the most common reasons for bad breath. If you do not brush and floss properly every day, food particles stay in your gums or dentures and grow bacteria. This causes bad breath. Smoking or chewing tobacco also leave bacteria, cause bad breath and irritate the gums. The residual bacteria can cause dental caries and yeast infections in the mouth.

Certain medical conditions can result in bad breath as well. Upper respiratory illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections can lead to chronic dry mouth. Digestive problems like diabetes, acid reflux disease, and liver or kidney problems also cause dry mouth. This is a problem because saliva moistens and cleans the mouth by neutralizing acids produced by plaque and washing away dead skin cells from the cheeks, gums and tongue. Without saliva these cells can start to decompose and cause bad breath.

These problems sound really scary and can be extremely serious. That’s why your oral health is so important. In addition to periodontal check-ups, Dr. Carter also provides Tennessee oral cancer screenings. Click here or call our Clarksville TN dental office today at (931) 614-6603 to schedule a consultation or learn more about our services.