Louisville, KY

415 Benjamin Ln
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 423-7868

Shepherdsville, KY

181 KY-44 E, STE 2
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
(502) 543-3054

Jeffersonville, IN

2310 Allison Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
(812) 288-7135

Louisville


Louisville, KY

415 Benjamin Ln
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 498-8297

Shepherdsville, KY


Shepherdsville, KY

181 KY-44 E, STE 2
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
(502) 423-7868

Jeffersonville, IN


Jeffersonville, IN

2310 Allison Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
(812) 288-7135

bad breath

9 Potential Causes of your Bad Breath

9 Potential Causes of your Bad Breath

bad breath

Louisville, KY

Halitosis, or chronic bad breath, can be a real turn-off to those around you or just plain embarrassing. It’s estimated that approximately one in four individuals suffers from some form of bad breath. Moreover, having bad breath could be an indicator of a significant oral health problem. Today on the blog, your family dentist in Louisville takes a look at nine issues that could be causing your bad breath.

Morning breath is one of the most common types of bad breath

This occurs because your mouth reduces production of saliva while you are asleep, encouraging the proliferation of bacteria while you sleep. This creates that stale, bad-smelling taste in your mouth by the time you wake up the next morning. If smelly breath persists past the morning and even after you brush, then you should contact your dentist to identify the possible cause of your halitosis.

Your mouthwash may be encouraging bad breath, not stopping it

Walk into your nearest store and peruse the varieties of mouthwash that are available. It’s likely they all promote themselves as killing bacteria. Remember, however, that your body and mouth contain all different varieties of bacteria—both good and bad. Using an antibacterial mouthwash kills all the bacteria, and eliminating the good bacteria can make it easier for the bad bacteria that cause cavities and bad odors to multiply more rapidly. We recommend you consult your dentist to determine the right type of mouthwash for you.

9 possible causes of bad breath

What you eat and drink: What do coffee, onions and garlic have in common? They all can lead to bad-smelling breath.

Tobacco: Whether you smoke, use chewing tobacco or vape, bad-smelling breath is a potential consequence.

Poor oral care: If you fail to brush your teeth twice a day or floss daily, this can lead to the accumulation of leftover food particles in your mouth. Left to linger, these food particles break down and emit a foul odor.

Dry mouth: Dry mouth occurs when saliva production reduces. It is a common culprit in morning breath. Dry mouth can stem from dehydration or as a side effect of certain prescription medications.

Infection: Diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, liver dysfunction or kidney trouble all can lead to bad breath as a symptom. You may need to consult both your dentist and general physician if you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions while also experiencing halitosis.

Gum disease: This chronic disease occurs from a bacterial infection of the gums. Untreated gum disease can do permanent damage to your teeth and mouth. The possible consequences of gum disease include tooth loss, bone loss and – you guessed it – bad breath.

Postnasal drip: If you have a cold or sinus problems, mucus may coagulate in the throat or around the tonsils, especially when you lay down to sleep, which can affect the odor of your breath. If this is causing your halitosis, the solution could be as simple as taking an over-the-counter decongestant or antihistamine.

GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when there is too much acid in the stomach or the patient deals with chronic reflux of stomach acid. This high quantity of acid can negatively affect your breath.

Cancer: Metabolic disease and even certain types of cancer can lead to bad-smelling breath, especially if there is a metallic-smelling odor.

Get fresher breath in Kentuckiana

When you come to Exceptional Dentistry for a checkup, you will undergo a professional dental cleaning. This removes all the cavity-causing plaque and tartar from your mouth, while also freshening your breath. If your bad breath is being caused by an oral condition such as gum disease, we can treat your gum disease through the use of our precise dental laser. These services are available at all three of our locations, in Louisville and Shepherdsville, Kentucky, as well as Jeffersonville, Indiana. Schedule your consultation today. Just call (502) 423-7868 or complete our online appointment request form.

General Dentistry
Share This :

Recent Post

Book Your Consultation

We are excited you found us and we hope you will take the first step to join our family.

Scroll to Top