Categories: Oral Hygiene Basics

A Dentist Explains What Your Breath Reveals About You

If you have consistent bad breath, talking to your dentist about it is a  Having bad breath can have serious consequences on your personal and professional life. Just think about it. How often do you look forward to having a conversation with someone whose breath usually smells like a garbage dumpster?

Do not be that person. People with bad breath are often viewed as dirty or unhygienic, but that is not always the reason their breath stinks. While bad breath can be caused by poor oral hygiene, it is often a symptom of an underlying dental issue that your dentist can help you figure out.

Common causes of bad breath

1. Stomach issues

Having bad breath can be a sign that there is something wrong with the digestive system. This can lead to volatile sulfur gases emitting from the mouth. Bad breath can even be a sign of something more serious, like stomach cancer.

2. Lung issues

Bad breath can also be a sign that a person has a lung disease. Breath tests that measure the concentration of VSGs in the person's breath are used to diagnose lung cancer.

3. Kidney failure

If a person's breath constantly smells fishy even when they have not consumed any seafood, that might be a sign of kidney failure. The kidneys are tasked with eliminating toxic substances in the blood via urine.

When the kidneys are damaged, they lose their ability to filter out waste products. This allows toxins in the body to accumulate in various parts of the body. When these toxins affect the lungs, it often leads to the person's breath smelling like fish.

4. Sleep apnea

People with extremely bad cases of morning breath might be suffering from sleep apnea. Saliva production is naturally decreased when a person is sleeping, and that makes it possible for the bacteria that create bad odors to grow and multiply.

The effects of this growth become more severe when the person sleeps while breathing with their mouth open. This dries the mouth out even more, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. People with sleep disorders like sleep apnea are more prone to sleeping with their mouth open.

5. Nasal issues

Infections like a common cold, flu or bronchitis can lead to bad breath. These infections inflame the tissues of the respiratory system, and that triggers the production of mucus. In addition, a nasal infection can also lead to a person breathing through their mouth, since their nose feels congested. As was mentioned earlier, breathing with the mouth leads to bad breath.

Never accept bad breath

If your breath does not smell the way you wish it did despite the fact you practice good oral hygiene, it is time to make an appointment with a dentist. The dentist will help you figure out the cause and come up with a treatment plan.

Dealing with bad breath? Talk to a dentist today.

Let's get started …

Request an appointment here: https://www.titandentalcare.com or call Titan Dental Care at (703) 745-3227 for an appointment in our Sterling office.

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Dr. Rami Tahhan

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Dr. Rami Tahhan

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