Boise Dentist

Of all the socially awkward moments you could experience, having someone tell you that your breath stinks is pretty high on the list of embarrassing incidents. It’s not always easy to tell when you have bad breath, which is weird considering it’s all happening literally under your nose!

Sometimes, you can use breath mints, gum, and mouthwash to keep your breath fresh, but other times, the solution isn’t so simple. It might require the help of a professional to get to the underlying cause of the stink!

Our team at Times Square Dental can do just that. We can help you find the source and the solution for your chronic bad breath so you can say so long to those embarrassing moments when someone points out your less than fragrant breath.

Stats About Smelly Breath

Bad breath is more common than you might think. Here are the facts:

-No demographic has a monopoly on bad breath; it can affect anyone.

-The American Dental Association estimates that 1 in 4 people have smelly breath!

-Although causes may differ person to person, 90% of bad breath is coming from your mouth.

-An estimated 60 million Americans have persistent bad breath, and many of those people aren’t even aware they have it!

When it comes to your breath, self-awareness is important! So let’s take a look at what usually causes it to smell.

Sources Of Stinky Breath

We already know that what you eat and drink is most commonly behind the odors coming from your mouth. Foods that contain a lot of garlic or onions, for example, are widely known for their good flavoring ability, but also for the odors they leave behind.

Drinks like coffee and alcohol are also to blame for bad breath. The good news about all this is that these bad breath culprits only last until you’re able to brush and floss your teeth and rinse with mouthwash.

But here are some other common causes for bad breath that aren’t so easily remedied:

-Certain medications

-Chronic dry mouth

-Disease or other chronic health conditions

-Gum disease

-Smoking and other tobacco use

-Poor oral hygiene habits and/or technique

-Sinus infections and other respiratory problems

How Your Breath Can Pass The Smell Test

Your Diet – This is a pretty easy problem to combat because you can pick and choose what to eat and drink based on the social context of your situation at the time. You can either opt out of the smelliest foods and drinks, or make sure to carry sugarless gum or breath mints to keep your breath fresh.

Your Medications – Talk to your doctor about possible side effects to your medications and whether there are alternatives that would work for you.

Your Saliva Production – Saliva is essential to washing away food particles and debris from your teeth in between brushing and flossing. Talk to Dr. Hastings if you’re experiencing problems with chronic dry mouth.

Your Health – If you have certain health conditions that are contributing to your bad breath, talk to someone on our team who can help you determine best mouth rinses and other dental care products to mitigate your bad breath.

Your Gums – Our skilled hygienists and dentists can help determine if you show signs of gum disease so we can help you reclaim your gum health. This will help keep bad breath at bay.

Your Smoking Habit – If you smoke or use other forms of tobacco, quitting is the best solution, for your breath, and also for your overall health.

Your Oral Care Routine – Make sure to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. Also, maintain your routine dental cleanings and exams twice a year at Times Square Dental!

Your Sinuses – If you have frequent sinus infections that are causing your bad breath, it’s best to talk to your doctor about why these problems keep persisting and how to effectively treat it.

If bad breath is affecting your life, and those around you, schedule an appointment at Times Square Dental, and someone from our team will be happy to help you get to the bottom it and get beyond it!

Give us a call at 208-278-1069 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule a dental checkup!