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Bad breath

 
Kowhai Dental Bad breath
 

Bad breath, or halitosis, can be a bigger problem than you might think, affecting your professional and personal relationships.

Of course, sometimes bad breath is just a result of a very garlic-forward lunch, but oftentimes the cause can be more insidious. Severe or constant bad breath can impact your social life and harm your self-esteem, or even be a sign of more concerning oral health issues.

In many cases, it’s enough to step up your oral health routine to eliminate excess odour-causing plaque and bacteria. However, sometimes professional dental treatment may be required.

 
 

What causes bad breath?

There are many possible causes of halitosis, and most of them start in the mouth. Below are just some of the potential causes for chronic bad breath:

  • Poor oral health maintenance (ie. brushing and flossing)

  • A build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth

  • Gingivitis, or periodontitis

  • Tooth decay (cavities)

  • Dental infection or abscess

  • Failed dental implants

  • Dry socket

  • Dry mouth (xerostomia).

Alcohol, smoking, some medications and even frequently breathing through your mouth can contribute to a dry mouth. In these cases, the lack of saliva means your body’s natural defense against debris and bacteria is weaker. Saliva naturally carries these things out of your mouth to stop them from harming your teeth and creating odours.

Of course, there are also many bodily issues which may contribute to bad health, particularly digestive problems or infections around the airways (nose, throat, lungs, sinuses). Finally, lifestyle factors can contribute, such as dieting, stress or hormonal changes.

 

Symptoms of bad breath

The most obvious symptom of halitosis is, of course, remarkably foul-smelling breath. It’s important to distinguish bad breath from just the smell of your most recent meal or coffee. While coffee, garlic or fish can make your breath a bit smelly, that’s nothing to be concerned about medically. 

Instead, you should be conscious of any of the following smells on your breath:

  • Metallic odour

  • Sulfuric (rotten egg) odour

  • Mouldy or fungal smells

  • Fecal smells.

Any of these smells could be a cause for concern. 

Other than the smell itself, halitosis is evident by constant, resilient odour. It won’t simply go away with time or by brushing or chewing gum. 

You might also have a bad taste in your mouth, or notice swollen or bleeding gums. Bad breath may also accompany a toothache.

 

Treating bad breath at home

If you’re been told you have bad breath, the first thing to do is address your oral health routine. You should be brushing twice and flossing at least once every day. These shouldn’t be cursory cleanings, but proper thorough brushing and flossing to remove bacteria and debris. 

To ensure you’re brushing properly, use a soft-bristled brush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Hold the brush at a 45° angle to your gum line. Brush in small circular motions and slowly move across your mouth. Be sure to brush the fronts, backs and biting surfaces of your teeth.

A surprising amount of bacteria can also accumulate on your tongue, so brushing your tongue can also help to eliminate odours. 

You might also like to use a mouthwash, however this is not a substitute for proper oral health care. A thorough oral health routine is the best natural remedy for bad breath.

If halitosis persists despite a strong oral health routine, the issue is likely not one that can be treated at home. Instead, book an appointment with Kowhai Dental so we can help you identify and treat the issue.

 

When to see a dentist

If you’re struggling with prolonged or severe bad breath, there’s a good chance you know that it’s time to see a dentist. When brushing and breath mints aren’t enough to combat chronic bad breath, you should seek a professional opinion.

The sooner you book an appointment with Kowhai Dental, the sooner we can treat the cause of your halitosis. Request an appointment online or call us on 09 430 0707.

 

What to expect

Bad breath is a fairly embarrassing issue to have for a lot of people. When you come to Kowhai Dental, we want you to feel comfortable and unashamed. We understand that bad breath happens, and we want to help you overcome it as quickly as possible so you can get on with your life. 

We’ll start by consulting with you about the halitosis and any relevant medical history. We’ll then conduct a full examination of your mouth and may require an X-ray. We can perform the X-ray in the clinic in the same appointment, so there’s no need to stress.

Your dentist will ask a few questions, so it’s helpful if you can think about your answer to the following:

  • When did you notice the bad breath?

  • How long has the bad breath persisted?

  • Have you made any changes to your oral health routine?

  • Has your diet changed?

  • Are you experiencing any oral pain?

Being prepared can speed up your diagnosis so you can go home knowing your halitosis won’t be following you.

 
 
 

 

Got questions

  • There are a lot of possible causes for bad breath. Most commonly, bad breath is the result of poor oral health. Infrequent brushing and flossing can lead to gingivitis, which causes gums to bleed, contributing to a metallic smelling breath. Likewise, plaque and bacteria and create foul odours too.

    Otherwise, dental caries or infection are more severe causes of bad breath and may require filling, extraction or root canal.

  • If a thorough, sustained brushing routine doesn’t alleviate bad breath, the cause may be too severe to be fixed at home. Gingivitis may have progressed to periodontitis, with hard tartar deposits below the gum line.

    Infections or cavities also will not be treated by brushing, nor will bodily issues such as stomach or lung problems.

  • The first place to look for causes of bad breath is the mouth. If you are not suffering from gingivitis, dental caries or other oral health problems, there may be cause to consider bodily illness. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD is a common cause of sulfuric breath, and is signified by repeated acid reflux or heartburn.

    More often than not, you will be able to recognise other symptoms of bodily illness before bad breath.

  • It’s fairly common to experience bad breath after tooth extraction or wisdom tooth removal if dry socket occurs. Dry socket happens when the blood clot over the extraction site dissolves or is otherwise dislodged. You’ll usually also feel increased pain and a foul taste in your mouth, in addition to bad breath.

    If you notice this occurring, contact Kowhai Dental as soon as possible so we can clean the socket and reapply an antiseptic dressing immediately.

  • Implants themselves are rarely the cause of bad breath. However, many mistakenly think that because a tooth isn’t real, it doesn’t need to be cleaned. The surrounding gum can become infected if oral health is not maintained properly, leading to bad breath. Left untreated, the infected implant may fail and fall out.

  • You may have neglected your oral health following a dental procedure like an extraction or root canal, and this may create bad breath. The solution is simply to get serious about brushing and flossing again.

    If the smell doesn’t seem normal, it may be some residual chemicals used to clean out the root canal during the procedure. This is normal and should pass with time. As always, if you are concerned, the best thing to do is contact Kowhai Dental.

  • Dental veneers are a fantastic way to restore the appearance of a damaged or discoloured tooth. However, they do need to be cared for just like regular teeth, as plaque can still accumulate on them, and on the natural teeth behind them.

    Neglecting oral health with veneers can quickly lead to bad breath. Similarly, poorly fitted veneers may create pockets for plaque to accumulate that are hard for you to clean. In this case, you will need to see a dentist to remove tartar and refit the veneers.