Happy March Folks!

Dr. Jonas here and I hope you are as excited as I am for spring time!

Now Quick cup your hand and breathe into it. How does your breath smell?

Not so minty fresh?

While you are grabbing a mint, consider why you have bad breath. It may be obvious… did you just wake up or eat a slice of garlic toast? No? Then it’s probably one of these reasons.

You’re chewing too much gum
I hate to break it to you, gum and mints are full of sugar, bacteria’s favourite food! They’re great for a short term fix. However, if you find yourself using them multiple times a day, you probably have a more significant issue on your hands.

You have gum disease
Sorry to say but you may have gum disease. A visit to my office will quickly let you know if this is the cause of your bad breath.

Food is rotting on your teeth
If you’re brushing habits are less then stellar, that leaves a lot of room for food to decay on your teeth. To fix it, make sure you’re brushing your teeth twice a day, one of those being right before you go to bed. Also, floss and brush or scrape your tongue to get any tiny food bits left in the cracks.

You’re sick
If you’re sick, the mucus in your throat stinks! Then, food and bacteria get stuck in your enlarged tonsils, giving off a terrible odor. But, don’t you worry, once you’re well, the smell will be gone. Unless…

You’ve developed tonsil stones
If you’re sick for a while, you have may developed tonsil stones. Tonsil stones form when the food and mucus combine on your tonsils and calcify. These tiny “stones” are often not visible because of the folds in your throat that hide them. If you suspect you have them, schedule a check up with me and I’ll goo ahead and take a look.

Stomach acid attacking your enamel
Gastric reflux is one of the biggest culprits of bad breath because your stomach acid is destroying your tooth enamel. Try eating some antacids and sleeping with your head elevated to relieve the reflux. If that doesn’t work, you may need to see your medical doctor.

You’re thirsty
If your mouth is parched or you’re dehydrated, plaque builds up and creates bad breath. Grab a glass of water and see if that solves the issue. If you continuously want to chug litres of water, you may have a condition called dry mouth. Call my office for an appointment to discuss.

In any case, if you’re unsure of what the cause of your bad breath may be, I’m here to help. Call my office today and schedule your visit.

Once again, thank you for being part of the Alderwood Family Dentistry family.

Have a nice March!

Jonas

 Dr. Jonas Stefani, DDS

Principal Dentist at Alderwood Family Dentistry