Enjoy A Smile that Lasts a Lifetime with Good Dental Hygiene

Bad breath is a serious issue that doesn’t just hurt your social life but can also be a sign of more severe health issues. However, not everyone with awful breath necessarily has terrible oral hygiene. If you’re searching the internet for phrases like “good oral hygiene still bad breath,” know you are not alone. At Erik G. Grothouse, DDS, Dr. Erik Grothouse has helped countless patients afflicted with this condition and can also help you.

What Can Cause Bad Breath

While bad oral hygiene is a leading cause of bad breath, there are other causes. This can be frustrating for those who practice good oral hygiene daily as they believe their efforts are going to waste. However, specific health issues can also cause halitosis (bad breath). A few other causes include:

• Heartburn
• Dry mouth
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Heavy drinking
• Certain foods
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Infections in your throat, nose, and lungs, such as pneumonia.
• Neck and head cancers
• Tonsil stones
• Kidney or liver disease
• Kidney failure
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (more commonly known as “Acid Reflux Disease”)

Treating Bad Breath

Treating halitosis requires treating the root cause. If the condition is caused by something other than an oral health issue, such as acid reflux or diabetes, then your general healthcare provider or a specialist would help you develop a treatment plan for treating the condition, which would be the best chance of reducing symptoms such as halitosis. That said, ensuring that your oral health is in good order while investigating other possible causes is never a bad idea. 

Despite good oral health, it’s still possible to get gum disease as sometimes particles can get stuck between your gums and teeth without knowledge, spreading bacteria. This is why it’s essential to augment your good oral hygiene habits with routine dental checkups where we can perform a professional cleaning to help clear debris and bacteria that regular brushing and flossing miss. Dr. Grothouse may also prescribe a special mouthwash that can aggressively combat specific bacteria in your mouth.

In some cases, a change in lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking or drinking, may help resolve the issue of chronic bad breath. A change in diet may also help, especially if your bad breath is due to conditions such as acid reflux. 

Increasing the amount of water you drink daily can also help prevent conditions such as “dry mouth.” You can also achieve this by eating healthy foods. Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine products can also help prevent this condition.

Clearing the Air

Erik G. Grothouse, DDS, is proud to serve Indianapolis and the surrounding communities. To learn more about getting rid of bad breath, schedule a consultation with Dr. Grothouse by calling (317) 823-1780. You can also visit our office at 7962 Oaklandon Road, Suite #105.

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