Beating Horrible Halitosis

A brunette woman in front of a grey background with hair covering her mouth to conceal her bad breath.

“My neighbor’s bad breath is scaring me.”

Halitosis can be embarrassing, but there are a lot of contributing factors. I’m Dr. Phan with OKC Smiles. I’d like to take a few minutes to share with you some information about bad breath.

Brushing just the teeth may not remove fragments of food between the teeth and up in the gums. Bacteria can grow and stink from hidden floss-only locations. Gently brushing the gums, sides of the mouth, and the tongue in addition to the teeth may make the difference.

Also, the food you are eating can impact the odor in your mouth. Onions, garlic, and coffee are likely to show up on the breath no matter how much time is spent brushing.

Illness, infection, and allergies can all cause salivation issues which in turn upset the control of bacteria in the mouth. Diabetes, kidney failure, radiation therapy, liver malfunction, dry mouth, or even a sinus infection can cause an odor. The bacteria balance in the mouth is ever-changing.

Finally, dentures or removable appliances may also carry bacteria that need to be cleaned and freshened up on a regular basis.

1. Brush and floss the teeth as well as brush the tongue, gums, and sides of the mouth.
2. Enjoy onions and garlic a little less.
3. Stay on top of health issues.
4. Keep dentures clean.

Again, I’m Dr. Mark Phan. Located at 13900 S Western, Suite 300 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We offer family dentistry, Invisalign, sedation dentistry, porcelain veneers, and restorative dentistry just to name a few of our services.

Contact OKC Smiles:

405-634-7303

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

13900 S Western, Suite 300
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
73170

 

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