It's important to brush your teeth, but do you know why? Without this essential dental routine, you risk having gum disease, which can result in the loss of teeth and even affect the rest of your body. Bad breath is one symptom of poor dental hygiene. In fact, when you have bad breath, there's a 90% chance that the cause has to do with your mouth, according to Mouth Healthy. While dentists can help you, here's a little insight if you're encountering this problem.

Food Can Play a Big Part

While you might love certain foods, people around you might not be thrilled to talk to you afterward. If you eat things with onions, for example, that's going to give off an odor. You could mask it with mouthwash or mints, but it's really not going to go away until the food has fully been digested. On the other side of the coin, if you don't eat enough, that can also cause you to have bad breath. This is because the process that breaks down fat in your body can give off some odors. Try to eat balanced meals and don't skip any.

Lack of Regular Brushing

You need to brush and floss regularly, otherwise, food particles will get stuck in between your teeth. When not properly cleaned, the food particles in your mouth will start breaking down and releasing bacteria, which causes bad breath. Brushing properly twice a day and flossing daily is the best way to combat this, along with twice-yearly dental visits of course.

The Presence of Medical Conditions

Unfortunately, there are times when your bad breath comes from underlying medical issues. It could be due to conditions like gastric issues, diabetes, or cancer. If after consulting with your dentists and practicing the right oral health habits, your bad breath is still there, you should consult your primary doctor. Side effects from treatments like chemo can dry out your mouth as well, which can allow bacteria to grow and cause bad breath.

Bad breath is relatively common. That's why there are so many products that can make it go away for a bit, which is important in social settings. Ultimately, you need to get to the root of it so you'll be able to smile and talk without worry. Are you looking for dentists in your area to help with your chronic bad breath? We can help! Contact us today.