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TwitterHidden Causes of Bad Breath You Need to Know
Bad breath always comes up at unwelcome times – right before a face-to-face meeting, when you first wake up or when someone wants to steal a kiss from you. However, not all bad breath can just be attributed to morning breath or a particularly pungent meal. Other causes of halitosis can hide in your everyday diet or medications and, in some cases, untreated health conditions. If a foul breath is a consistent problem for you, let medical professionals from our walk-in clinics throughout Phoenix help you determine the cause.
Are You Taking High Blood Pressure Medications?
High blood pressure medications often contain nitrates or triamterene (Dyrenium) to widen blood vessels and improve blood flow to your heart. These types of medications are prescribed to treat chest pain (angina) or high blood pressure (hypertension). What many do not know is the chemical composition of these medications can often cause bad breath. If your breath continues to be problematic, consult with your family or cardiac doctor for alternative treatment for your hypertension or angina. If you need quicker service, try our no-appointment clinics throughout Phoenix, Surprise and Tempe.Other medications that can cause bad breath include:
Is Dry Mouth a Side Effect of Your Other Medications?
Many people do not associate dry mouth with bad breath. However, decreased saliva production also means that it’s difficult for your mouth to rinse out bacteria. Dry mouth can also lead to sore throats and coughing, conditions that produce phlegm.
If dry mouth is a side effect to a much-needed medication, try an OTC product like Biotene and drink more water. The more saliva you are able to produce, the less likely the dry mouth symptoms will become a health concern for you.
What Have You Eaten Lately?
The following foods and drinks are notorious for causing bad breath:
Only having these in moderation can help curb bad breath. Many dental experts will argue that you need to brush and floss following every meal. If this is not possible, try chewing sugar free gum. This will loosen plaque before it hardens on your teeth and help clean out particles between teeth. Chewing sugar-free gum also helps increase saliva production to rinse your mouth.
If you are on a low-carb diet, you can also develop a form of bad breath known as ketone breath. This is an acidic smell brought on by your body’s process of burning fat. Seek medical attention if your breath ever takes on an acetone-like smell as this could be a sign of a condition requiring immediate attention (ketoacidosis). This is a common health condition that accompanies uncontrolled or untreated Type 1 diabetes.
Foods can also cause gastrointestinal issues. If you are prone to GI issues, you may experience bad breath from stomach acids rising into your esophagus and throat areas. Talk with a provider at a local family medical clinic to determine treatment options to curb your GI flare-ups.
Do You Use Tobacco or Drink Alcohol Frequently?
Tobacco products are a leading cause of bad breath, right up there with coffee and pungent foods. Tobacco coats your mouth and does not allow bacteria to be easily rinsed away with water. Different types of alcohol are often used as a disinfectant for oral bacteria, but frequent use of beer or hard liquor can de-synthesize your mouth from the antibacterial properties found in toothpaste and mouthwash. If your alcohol or tobacco use has reached the point of causing bad breath, it could be time to consider the health benefits of quitting. Start a conversation with our medical providers for quitting benefits and options.
Oral hygiene is an absolute must to help combat bacteria. We recommend following the Association of Dental Association’s two minutes two times a day rule. This means you brush your teeth for a full two minutes at two different times of the day, typically first thing in the morning and before you go to sleep. If you do not know how to floss, speak with your oral hygienist for tips. You can also try inexpensive oral picks for those hard to reach places. If bad breath continues to be a problem, try adding an antiseptic oral rinse to your daily oral hygiene routine.
Bad breath is inconvenient, and for the most part, is avoidable. Neglecting general oral care can lead to other health conditions with far worse complications. If you believe your medications or pre-existing gastrointestinal issues are causing bad breath or dry mouth, walk in to one of our convenient valley urgent care clinics for quick service!