I’m Stuart Youmans of Aspen Ridge Dental. Today’s post offers some answers to common questions about bad breath.
Q. My wife says my breath is awful, but I brush twice a day. Shouldn’t that be enough?
A. Bacteria can increase and stink in hidden crevices that can only be reached with floss. Time to start flossing. If your breath hasn’t improved in a few months, make an appointment so we can explore other possible causes of your halitosis.
Also, keep in mind that brushing just the teeth may not eliminate food particles between the teeth and up in the gums. Gently brushing the gums, sides of the mouth, and the tongue in addition to the teeth may make the difference.
Q. My breath seems to get worse during hay fever season. What’s up with that?
A. Allergies can change mouth odor in a couple of ways. First, anything that stimulates post-nasal drip can be a trigger because bacteria at the back of the throat mix with the mucous and exude a smelly odor as it breaks down. Second, hay fever medications often cause dry mouth which can result in stinky breath. Antihistamines can curtail post-nasal drip so this is a catch-22. If you take antihistamines, drink water frequently throughout the day to keep your mouth moist, suck on sugar-free mints to stimulate saliva production, and rinse with a non-alcohol mouth rinse.
Q. What health conditions can result in bad breath?
A. As considered before, any condition that reduces saliva generation can cause halitosis. It is also a persistent side effect of diabetes, kidney failure, and liver failure. Of course, if your kidneys or liver is failing, you have bigger problems.
Q. Why did my breath become intolerable when I went on a strict low-carb diet?
A. Ketones were possibly the culprit. Ketones are created when the body digests fat—which is usually the goal of a low-carb plan. On the flip side, sounds like you weren’t cheating!
Contact Aspen Ridge Dental:
307-234-6054
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1122 S Conwell St
Casper, Wyoming
82601