Whether you call it bad breath or halitosis, a bad smell from your mouth is an unpleasant condition certain to cause social embarrassment. If you have bad breath, it’s time to visit your The Glenroy Dental Group dentist.

We can help identify the cause of your bad breath and, if it’s due to an oral condition, develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

Causes of Bad Breath

To eliminate bad breath, the first step is to find its cause. There are 10 common causes of bad breath and in cases of halitosis our first step at The Glenroy Dental Group is to determine which causes apply in your case:

1. Drinking and Eating Certain Foods and Drinks: Some drinks and foods (coffee, garlic and onions) are well-known culprits in bad breath. We love their taste, but that taste can hang around in the mouth or the bloodstream. That smell comes out through the breath, and remains until the body processes the food.
2. Plaque Buildup: If you don’t brush with good technique, or if you brush infrequently, bacteria form in your mouth and can cause bad breath.
3. Infrequent Flossing: Without flossing, small particles of food can get stuck among your teeth and gums. These are places where toothbrushes have a difficult time reaching. These food particles start to collect bacteria that lead to bad breath and plaque.
4. Tongue Bacteria: Bacterial growth on the tongue can cause mouth-related bad breath. Being certain to brush your tongue, as well as your teeth, reduces tongue bacteria.
5. Smoking: Smoking is a major cause of bad breath. Your bad breath may be due to other causes, as well, but tobacco use is guaranteed to cause bad breath, and create damage to your mouth that leads to additional conditions that also cause bad breath.
6. Dry Mouth: When your mouth is dry, there isn’t enough saliva to sluice away excess food particles and bacteria. Over time, this can cause an unpleasant smell if bacteria build up on the teeth.
7. Morning Breath: Your mouth produces less saliva during sleep, so bacteria multiply faster. That’s why bad breath odours are typically worse when you first wake up. Brushing your teeth is one of the most effective answers to this problem.
8. Infections: If you have an infection in your mouth from a wound, it’s an easy target for bacteria build-up and a resulting foul smell.
9. Medical Conditions: Bad breath can be the result of certain conditions, including tonsil stones, respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, or liver or kidney ailments. If you have chronic bad breath and your dentist rules out any oral health problems, see your doctor for an evaluation.
10. Postnasal Drip: If you have an inflammation of the sinuses, mucus can get caught in the back of your throat, causing a postnasal drip. The mucus can collect bacteria, and to make matters worse, now you have postnasal drip bad breath. Often, drinking lots of water and taking a decongestant can help with sinusitis, but if you have severe symptoms or your symptoms have lasted longer than a few weeks, you should talk to your doctor.

What Your Dentist Can Do

Regular checkups at The Glenroy Dental Group will allow us to discover any problems such as periodontal disease, a dry mouth or other disorders that may cause bad breath. Keeping good oral hygiene habits, avoiding and treating periodontal disease, and regular checkups and cleans are also key steps in reducing bad breath.

If your mouth is healthy and that the odour is not related to your oral health, you may be referred to your family physician or to a specialist. In most cases, however, your dentist can treat the causes of bad breath. If the odour is due to periodontal disease, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in treating gum tissues.

If you have extensive build-up of plaque, your dentist may recommend a clean, scale, or an antimicrobial toothpaste or mouthrinse. Antiseptic and antibacterial mouthrinses and toothpastes can reduce plaque and gingivitis and they also have breath freshening properties. Instead of simply hiding breath odour, some of these products kill the germs that cause bad breath.

The Glenroy Dental Group and You

At The Glenroy Dental Group, your health and happiness, and that of your children and family, are our dental goals. We use the most modern technology available and employ the latest dental techniques to ensure that your dental health and appearance are at the highest level. We want you to receive the best possible dental care with no pain or anxiety!

Our offices are conveniently located in the Pascoe Vale Road shopping strip, Glenroy, with ample parking space, we are located within easy walking distance of the Glenroy train station.

Our Promotions

*New Patients Only

Exam, Scale & Clean for only $99

Call us on (03) 9306 6511 or request your appointment online today!