Halitosis or Bad Breath at Lynn Dental Office
Commonly called bad breath, halitosis can easily be treated by dental hygiene. Proper dental hygiene consists of proper brushing, daily flossing, and scheduling regular dental visits.
Halitosis, recorded as early as 1550 BC, is one of those oral problems that can have far-reaching social consequences as it severely limits your interaction with people during the day. Most of the time, it is controllable with good hygiene habits, however, it may also point to oral problems that signal your need to visit the Alegre Dental: dentist in Lynn to consult your dentist.
For example, halitosis may point to a gum or tooth problem that has to be investigated and cleaned up before your breath is clear.
During your visit to the Alegre Dentist Office in Lynn, MA, we will provide you with the extensive cleaning required to eliminate hard-to-reach bacteria throughout your mouth. Our cleaning includes the back portion of your throat, your gum line as well as on the surface of your tongue. We will also give you advice on specific things that you need to do in order to properly care for your teeth and mouth.
There are three primary causes of halitosis:
External Causes – Certain foods cause bad breath. Onions, garlic, alcohol and cheese are known bad-breath causes. Smoking is another common cause of chronic bad breath; all it takes is one cigarette. Smokers generally suffer from some type of halitosis, based upon the length of time that they have smoked.
Intraoral Causes – Bacteria buildup within your mouth is another cause of bad breath. Generally found on your tongue, bacteria can also be located below the gum line of each individual tooth. If you fail to practice proper dental hygiene — brushing and flossing on a daily basis — bacteria may lead to gum problems which include but are not limited to gum disease. Bad breath may also be a warning sign of gum disease or periodontal disorders.
Extraoral Causes – Certain medical conditions such as gastric reflux, diabetes, sinusitis, liver disease, tonsillitis, colds, esophageal disease, and lung disease can contribute to a halitosis problem.
If you feel that you are suffering from chronic or mild halitosis, contact Lynn Dental Office to schedule an appointment and a comprehensive consultation.