Bad breath can be a challenging problem because often times, you can’t really tell just how bad yours is? Perhaps the look on someone’s face when you talk close to them is a tell-tale clue, but unless a friend or acquaintance is blunt enough to tell you that your breath smells awful, you might be guessing based on the way your mouth feels. If you have a friend or family member who you’re comfortable enough to ask, and can rely on an honest answer from them, that will be your most reliable bad breath test. Once you’ve established that halitosis is an issue, you should make an appointment with your Northern Chicago suburbs cosmetic dentist, Dr. Engelberg, to find out if there is an underlying dental issue. In the meantime, read on to learn more about bad breath.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Most cases of bad breath are due to something in the mouth, though occasionally digestive system issues are the culprit. Most often, bad breath is the result of nothing more serious than bacteria and food particles. Plaque, a sticky bio-film based from bacteria, is constantly forming in your mouth. Another possible source of halitosis is food that’s trapped between teeth and starts to rot, before it’s even had a chance to mix with bacteria to form plaque. Eventually, bad breath from these sorts of chronic issues will be a precursor for cavities and gum disease. Over time, if these problems are ignored, you can end up losing teeth and requiring cosmetic dental procedures to restore a nice looking smile.
Fighting Halitosis
Keep your mouth clean by brushing thoroughly in the morning, at night, and even in the middle of the day if your schedule allows. Make sure to include your tongue in your tooth brushing treatment, as many of those unpleasant smelling bacteria like to collect there. Don’t forget to floss daily to remove the food and bacteria trapped between teeth. If you fail to keep up with a good oral hygiene regimen, and don’t visit your dentist twice-a-year for cleanings and checkups, you’re likely to be one of the many with periodontal disease (gum disease) which is a known cause of chronically bad breath.
Help for Your Cosmetic Dental Needs in Northwest Chicago Suburbs
If bad breath is an issue, or poor oral hygiene has let you down a path to having cosmetic dental issues, your Northwest Chicago suburbs cosmetic dentist, Dr. Engelberg, can help. You can reach our 60061 dentist office at 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.
