Everyone has bad breath from time to time, but if you find yourself with bad breath more often than not, it could be a sign of an underlying oral health problem. Chronic bad breath is known as Halitosis, which occurs in about 75 percent of patients with bad breath. Most often, bad breath is caused from sinus infections, severe gum disease, or gastric complications. In order to treat bad breath, the underlying cause must first be identified, and that will require a visit to your local dentist. We provide treatment for bad breath in Waverly NE by identifying the underlying cause to provide the appropriate treatment.
Causes of Bad Breath in Waverly NE
We all know that certain foods cause bad breath, such as garlic and onions. But, other foods can cause bad breath as well, including coffee, alcohol and tobacco use. However, the leading cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. When proper oral hygiene isn’t maintained, plaque and bacteria accumulate in the mouth, causing the odor to occur. This is especially true for people who don’t brush or floss well. Those who wear dentures tend to also have bad breath as food debris becomes trapped under the dentures, which is why they must be cleaned properly each day.
Overtime, the lack of proper oral care can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. When tooth decay and gum disease become severe, bad breath will intensify. In order to stop the odor, the underlying issues will need to be treated.
While poor oral care is often a leading cause of bad breath, it can also be caused by other factors, such as the tonsils. The tonsils can cause food and bacteria to become trapped in the tonsil area. As a result, the odor will develop. Mouthwash and oral hygiene can remove the debris and bacteria to reduce the odor.
Respiratory infections are also a leading cause of bad breath. For example, infections of the sinuses, throat, and lungs are known to cause bad breath, often due to an accumulation of mucus. Treating the infections will resolve the odor.
Certain complications of the salivary glands can also lead to bad breath, like those that cause dry mouth. Medical conditions and medications that cause dry mouth will lead to an accumulation of bacteria. In addition, breathing through the mouth, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy will also cause dry mouth, causing the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Treating Bad Breath in Waverly NE
As a dentist in Waverly NE, we will work to find the cause of your bad breath to provide the appropriate treatment. If oral health complications are the cause of the odor, we provide the comprehensive care you need to restore oral health to stop the odor.
With preventative care, we will prevent bad breath before it starts by helping you keep bacteria and plaque levels to a minimum. We provide the preventative care you need to stop gum disease and tooth decay before it even starts. Let us help you treat your bad breath. Call us today at (402) 786-2007 to schedule an appointment.