Chronic Halitosis Could Be Ruining Your Life

If your chronic halitosis is keeping you away from social engagements, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Although there are several reasons for chronic bad breath, gum disease is at the top of the list. If you have gum disease it’s not just your teeth and gums that will suffer.

Periodontal disease, the more serious form of gum disease, has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.  Although it is imperative that you schedule an appointment for your chronic halitosis, there are some other reasons for your bad breath.

Dry Mouth-Medications, postnasal drip, tobacco use and certain medical problems can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth can cause bad breath and other teeth and gum problems. Dry mouth occurs because your salivary glands aren’t producing enough saliva. Ask your doctor to switch your medication. If you aren’t on any over the counter or prescribed drugs, talk to your dentist.

Tobacco-Cigarettes, cigars, Hookah pipes, and chewing tobacco are equally as bad as each other. If you smoke or chew, you could be suffering from chronic halitosis. Ask your doctor about kicking the habit. Tobacco also affects your sense of taste and smell, can irritate your delicate gums and can stain your teeth. When you quit chewing or smoking, you may see an increase in your social engagement invitations.

Onions and Garlic-You may love garlic and onions, but be aware that the odor will stay in your system up to 72 hours after you have eaten it. Odorous foods are absorbed into your blood stream, through your skin and into your teeth and gums. Brushing, flossing and mouth rinse will not help the smell go away until the onions, garlic and other odorous foods have been absorbed into your body.

If you have chronic bad breath, schedule an appointment with your Corona Dentist who can determine the cause and come up with a solution to your chronic halitosis. Call or click now.

Do You Have Dry Mouth?

If you suffer from Dry Mouth, you know it's much more than a thirsty feeling. When you have Dry Mouth, your salivary glands make very little, if any saliva. If you don’t have any saliva, it makes it hard to eat, taste, and digest food and drink. Saliva also flushes the food particles out of your teeth reducing the bacteria and acid that can cause tooth decay.

The Feeling

The corners of your mouth will dry out because of a lack of saliva. If you have Dry Mouth, your lips can also crack. Sores may also form around your mouth with your tongue feeling dry and rough. Severe cases of Dry Mouth can also make it difficult to talk or swallow.

It's Awkward

Because you don’t have enough saliva to rinse the food and debris from your teeth and gums, you may have chronic bad breath. People with Dry Mouth who wear lipstick may also have to constantly wipe it off their teeth because there is no saliva to get the job done. If you are hoarse or have a tickly throat, you could have Dry Mouth.

Medications

There are over 400 different types of over the counter and prescription drugs that can cause Dry Mouth. Prescription drugs that you take for anxiety, stress or to sleep at night, could be causing your Dry Mouth. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or depression the drugs that you are taking could be to blame. Neck and head radiation and chemotherapy can also cause Dry Mouth.

Nerve Damage

If you have had a neck or head injury, or surgery, you could have Dry Mouth as some of the nerves that carry the messages from your brain to your salivary glands could be damaged. Those damaged nerves do not have the ability to communicate with your salivary glands.

Other Conditions

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that could be to blame for your Dry Mouth. The medical condition causes your white blood cells to attack the salivary and tear glands. People who have HIV or diabetes can also develop Dry Mouth.

Tobacco Use

If you smoke pipes, cigars, cigarettes or a Hookah pipe, you are more susceptible to Dry Mouth than people who do not use tobacco. Even chewing tobacco can cause Dry Mouth.

Brush and Floss

Your dentist recommends that you brush twice and floss once each day and use an American Dental Association recommended mouth rinse. If you can’t brush after you eat, rinse your mouth, and drink water throughout the day.

If you have Dry Mouth or think you may have developed it, call or click and schedule an appointment with your dentist who may be able to help with your chronic Dry Mouth. Call or click today.