Bad breath in Beverly Hills? Sounds like something that could never happen – but almost everyone has halitosis from time to time. Avoiding bad breath depends on finding the cause because most cases are preventable. There are certain medical conditions that may cause bad breath and chronic halitosis that does not improve after following these tips should be reviewed with your physician.

Bad Breath and Food – We all know about the usual culprits like onions, garlic, coffee, and even sulfurous vegetables like cabbage. The bad breath sticks with you even after you have brushed because of the food chemicals absorbed in your bloodstream and the digestive process itself. Avoiding these foods is the only way to solve the problem.

Poor Oral Hygiene – Lots of people are guilty of this one and the decaying food particles that have not been cleaned from the mouth are a feast for your oral bacteria. When you exhale the odor from decomposing food, bacteria and the plaque on your teeth can get pretty nasty. Proper brushing and flossing can take care of this – just ask your hygienist to show you proper techniques for both.

Infection and Oral Disease – Gum disease (see poor oral hygiene above) causes severe bad breath. The same bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities are responsible for bad breath.

Smoking – Even after the breath mint we can all tell that you smoke. There are over 4,000 chemicals in the average cigarette and 200 of those are poisonous. The health effects of smoking are well documented and smoking contributes to gum disease which means even worse breath.

Dry Mouth – Xerostomia, also known as “dry mouth” is a condition that reduces the amount of saliva you produce. Saliva is extremely important for a healthy mouth. It rinses away food particles and helps remineralizer our teeth. Without the cleansing effects of saliva flow the food debris stays in the mouth and is attacked by bacteria causing an unpleasant odor. This condition can be a side effect of certain types of medicines or may be a sign of a more serious condition. Talk to both your dentist and your physician if you are experiencing dry mouth.

Medical Problems – Many medical issues including sinus infections, diabetes and even kidney failure can cause your breath odor to change. If you have good oral hygiene habits, visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings but suddenly develop bad breath you should visit your physician.

Treating bad breath includes proper brushing and flossing. Remember to invest in a tongue scraper and use it regularly. This will remove odor causing bacteria living on the tongue. Regular visits for professional dental cleanings will make sure that oral bacteria that cause bad breath are kept in check.

If you have a meal that is heavy on the onions or garlic you can try to mask the immediate effects by chewing a piece of parsley (naturally cleansing and deodorizing) or a piece of sugarless gum. Your breath will be back to normal in about a day.

Please contact Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. David Frey today at 310-276-4537 to schedule your dental hygiene appointment. Clean, shiny teeth and fresh breath are just a phone call away.

As a well-known cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills, Dr. Frey is familiar with the innumerable benefits of bringing more beauty out in the smile. He is also aware of the fact that, no matter how gorgeous and bright a person’s teeth are, they won’t feel much like smiling or speaking if they struggle with bad breath. Chronic bad breath, referred to as halitosis, is a big deal. Why else would we see such a wide variety of products designed to freshen up? Here, we dive into this problem to find a ray of hope.

In many instances of halitosis, oral hygiene is the underlying issue. If you worry that your breath is becoming frighteningly close to noxious, first look at your daily habits. When you brush, do so with specific intent. Keep it up for two full minutes, and pay close attention to reach every part of the mouth. If you clean your tongue with your toothbrush, switch to a specific tongue-cleaning instrument. Finally, floss. Every day. Use a flavored floss for a minty-fresh feeling. If improved oral hygiene habits do not resolve the issue within a week or two, contact us for a consultation. Another problem may be lurking.

Dentures

People who wear dentures are more susceptible to halitosis because bacteria can accumulate on the underside of fixtures, as well as on visible surfaces. Bad breath may also develop as a result of a poor fit. We can evaluate dentures and how they fit against the gums to determine how to manage fresh breath.

Infection

Everything from sores to gum disease to a cavity can cause bad breath. This is because each of these problems is usually associated with plaque. Now, plaque itself is odorless and invisible. However, the bacteria that reside in plaque (and tartar) can cause all kinds of problems. In addition to leaving acidic waste in the mouth to stink the place up, these microorganisms degrade the gums and the enamel that protects teeth. Identifying and treating infection is a great way to ease halitosis while also preserving long-term oral health.

Dry Mouth

Saliva flow is crucial to plaque-prevention, digestion, and bacteria-control. Without sufficient moisture in the mouth, bad breath can quickly become a problem. In some cases, management is as simple as sipping water throughout the day to prevent dehydration. However, dry mouth may also be related to a health condition such as diabetes. A thorough consultation and examination are necessary to plan the most appropriate treatment for dry mouth.

We’re here to help you love your smile!

NO NEED TO BE EMBARRASSED! We all experience morning breath from time to time. Typically, our morning brushing routines get rid of it. But people wonder where morning breath comes from—and people wonder what to do if it continues throughout the day.

Morning Breath Is Primarily Caused By Dry Mouth

While general bad breath can have a variety of causes (diet, oral hygiene habits, even some systemic diseases), morning breath most often stems from dry mouth.

While you’re sleeping, saliva production slows. Your body does that to help you sleep—otherwise you’d be having to swallow all the time. Saliva is vital to your oral health because it rinses away food particles, makes your mouth less acidic, and helps keep mouth bacteria in check.

So when saliva stops doing its thing during sleep, the bacteria goes wild! This creates a massive amount of sulphur gas buildup that stinks! Gross, right? That’s another reason why it’s important to brush our teeth before bed—it helps at least start out our sleep period with minimal sugars and bacteria in our mouths.

Tips For Combatting Morning Breath

1. ALWAYS brush your teeth (and tongue) before going to sleep.
2. Drink some water before you go to bed, and right after you wake up.
3. Clear your sinuses. Breathing through the nose helps some people not dry out so much.

But What If Morning Breath Lasts Beyond The Morning?

If you have chronic bad breath, ask yourself if you’re up-to-date with your regular dental check-ups. Sometimes a good cleaning can help. But even more important, bad breath can actually be a symptom of more severe problems like gum disease or tooth decay, which is something we’ll definitely want to consider.

Questions? Just Ask!

We know that it can be an awkward conversation, but if you’re worried about bad breath, let us know. Our goal is always to help you in every way we can!

Thanks For Being Our Valued Patient. We Appreciate You!

Almost everyone has bad breath from time to time so I thought I would share some Beverly Hills bad breath triggers. Bad breath can be embarrassing, and a deal breaker,  in both business and social situations. Aside from the notorious “morning breath” our worst breath of the day happens around 3 pm. Avoiding these bad breath triggers can make the problem less likely to happen to you.

• Food Triggers – Onions, garlic, coffee, and sugary drinks cause bad breath but even cruciferous vegetables like cabbage can add to the problem. The bad breath caused by some foods sticks with you even after you have brushed your teeth because some of the food chemicals are absorbed in your bloodstream and are part of the digestive process itself.

• Poor Oral Hygiene Trigger – Decaying food particles that have not been cleaned from the mouth are a feast for your oral bacteria (not to mention yucky).  As you exhale the odor from decomposing food, bacteria and the plaque on your teeth and tongue can get really foul. Proper brushing and flossing can take care of this and regular dental hygiene visits can help.

• Oral Disease Triggers  – Gum disease is responsible for most chronic bad breath. The same bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities are responsible for your halitosis so if you are experiencing bad breath on a regular basis it is time to call the dentist.

• Smoking Trigger –  There are over 4,000 chemicals in the average cigarette and 200 of those are poisonous. Inhaling this stuff makes your breath smell and contributes to gum disease which means even worse breath. This is another situation where part of the problem comes from the chemicals in your bloodstream. No amount of brushing will completely get rid of “ashtray mouth”.

• Dry Mouth Trigger – Xerostomia or “dry mouth” is a condition that results in a reduction in the amount of saliva you produce. Saliva rinses away food particles and helps remineralize your teeth. Without the cleansing effects of saliva all the food debris stays in the mouth and is attacked by bacteria causing an unpleasant odor. This condition can be a side effect of certain types of medicines or may be a sign of a more serious condition. Talk about your dry mouth symptoms with your dentist.

• Medical  Triggers – Medical issues like sinus infections, diabetes and even kidney failure can cause your breath odor to change. If you have good oral hygiene habits, visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings but suddenly develop bad breath please call your physician.

Avoiding bad breath includes  brushing and flossing regularly. Aa tongue scraper is a small investment and can really help. Scraping your tongue every daywill remove odor causing bacteria living there. Regular visits for professional dental cleanings will make sure that oral bacteria that cause bad breath are kept in check.

If you have a meal that has lots of bad breath causing foods you can try to mask the immediate effects by chewing a piece of parsley (naturally cleansing and deodorizing) or a piece of sugarless gum. Your breath will be back to normal in about a day.

Please contact  Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. David Frey today at 310-276-4537 to schedule your next hygiene appointment. Working together we can keep your smile healthy and fresh.