Do You Have Bad Breath? How to Tell and What to Do About It
No one wants to have bad breath yet we all have it some time. However, having bad breath after onions doesn’t mean you have halitosis – which is the fancy way of saying chronic bad breath. Halitosis continues even when you take steps to get rid of it. You may be wondering, how do I know if it’s just bad breath from what I’ve been eating or if it’s chronic?
There are a few things you can do. Read on to learn about them and then reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a California dentist who can help uncover and treat the underlying cause for you bad breath.
Do your friends and family think you have bad breath?
Start by asking those you’re close to if you have bad breath on a regular basis. Ask people who you know will be honest with you. Try to ask people who are around you at different times of the day. For some, bad breath may just happen in the morning but you want to know if it happens all the time. If more than one person has noticed your bad breath, then it’s likely time to get help.
Take a look at what you’re eating
What you’re eating can have a big impact on your breath. Do you regularly eat foods that cause bad breath? Do you generally only have bad breath when you’ve been eating poorly? Does your breath change based on what you’re eating? If you have said, “Yes!” to any of these questions, then it’s likely that your bad breath is at least partially food based. The easiest solution to this is to make sure that your brushing, flossing, or chewing sugar-free gum after eating strong-smelling foods.
Make sure you’re taking good care of your teeth
IF you have bad breathe frequently – not just when you eat stinky foods – then the first step is to up your home oral health care. Flossing can get rid of food particles and bacteria stuck between your teeth – both of which can be quite stinky. Mouthwash can help you get rid of bacteria form your mouth and can encourage minty, fresh breath. Try these steps first and see if they don’t make a big difference in your breath.
Speak to your dentist for long-term results
If taking more time and care with your oral health routine doesn’t do it, then it’s time to visit your dentist. At California Dental Group, we can listen to your symptoms, go over your habits, and figure out what’s really going on. For example, tooth decay and gum disease can both cause bad breath. Once we know what the issue is, we’ll be able to provide treatment options that won’t just knock out the bad breath today, but will treat it for good.
Today is a great day to make an appointment with a California dentist. Call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 right now to get started.
