Uh, You Could Use a Mint

Uh, You Could Use a Mint

Doritos’ breath. Dog breath. Breath from the Crypt. Or just plain old halitosis from the Listerine commercials.

No matter what you call it, no one wants to have bad breath. That’s why when you go to the Indian Hills Kroger there’s half an aisle devoted to remedies to either prevent or address halitosis. The thing about those mints and breath strips, however, is that they only cure the local, temporary bad breath. Maybe from those Doritos you just ate, or a long day without enough water and lots of talking.

But when your bad breath is more regular, there can be other causes to blame, such as lax home hygiene. Since you and Dr. Egger have the same goal — a healthy mouth — here’s what could be behind your ongoing dog breath.

What’s behind bad breath?

There can be many reasons a person’s breath doesn’t exactly remind you of the Holland Tulip Festival.

• Food— When food is being broken down, this can increase bacteria in your mouth and this can create bad breath. Eating certain foods, such as onions or garlic, can also cause bad breath. Once you eat those types of foods, they are digested and can enter your bloodstream, where they are carried to your lungs, and, you guessed it, your breath.
• Poor home hygiene— If you’re a lazy brusher and flosser, odds are you have bad breath. Food particles remain in your mouth, creating odors. Plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth throughout the day, needs to be removed by brushing and flossing daily. If you don’t, the bacteria starts to irritate the gums and eventually causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets that are like little hot tubs for bacteria to party in…and create bad breath.
• Tobacco products— Smoking itself causes stale breath. But it also increases the risk of gum disease, which is another source of ongoing, habitual bad breath.
• Dry mouth— Saliva is important in your mouth, helping to cleanse it and remove food particles. If you have dry mouth, your decreased saliva production can lead to bad breath.
• Infections in the mouth— If you’ve had wisdom teeth removed or other surgical wounds in the mouth, these can cause bad breath. But as long as they don’t become infected, this is only temporary.
• Other mouth, nose, and throat conditions— Your tonsils can become inflamed and covered with bacteria. That will make for some bad breath. Chronic sinus infections and the like will do the same.
• Other causes— Taking some medications can contribute to dry mouth, which contributes to bad breath. Certain metabolic disorders and cancers will cause breath odor, as does acid reflux disease.

That’s the lowdown on the causes of dog breath. No offense, Fido. As you read above, the number one way to fight bad breath is to have a diligent, attentive home hygiene regimen. The second best way to head off bad breath is to keep your twice-yearly professional cleanings and exams with Dr. Egger and his team. Call us for your next appointment, (989) 773-3560.