Virginia beach Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry Blog - Dr. Michael Folck

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be caused by poor dental hygiene. It can start as soon as food enters your mouth, since what you eat begins to be broken down almost immediately. Poor dental hygiene—failing to brush and floss regularly—means that food particles will remain in your mouth even after a meal. This can lead to the growth of odor-causing bacteria on your tongue and on your teeth or dentures. Other bad dental hygiene habits, like smoking or chewing tobacco, also can cause bad breath.

Additional causes of bad breath include dental health problems, which are usually made worse by poor dental hygiene. These dental health problems include gum disease (resulting when toxin-producing bacteria irritate the gums), poorly fitting dentures, infections of the mouth, and tooth decay.

Practicing good dental hygiene is an important aspect of preventing or eliminating bad breath. Brush and floss regularly, and preferably soon after meals, to remove food particles from your tongue and between your teeth. If you wear dentures, make sure they’re cleaned well every time you remove them and at least once a day. Drinking water to stimulate salivation can help wash away bacteria and food particles as well.

Finally, don’t forget to schedule regular visits with Dr. Folck for checkups and teeth cleaning. He will be able to spot the problems that are causing bad breath and can recommend an antiseptic mouthwash suitable to kill odor-causing bacteria. He can also judge if there’s a non-oral cause to your bad breath since other health problems can also lead to this condition. Your dentist may suggest that you schedule an appointment with a physician if there’s another root cause for your bad breath besides poor dental hygiene.

To learn more about your oral health and to schedule your comprehensive dental evaluation, please call or email our Virginia Beach office today. Dr. Michael Folck is an experienced cosmetic dentist and his staff is well-trained to help you practice good dental hygiene.