Dentist in San Antonio: Fixing Your Bad Breath

Bad breath is so mortifying, and it can point to a health issue in the mouth or another place in your body.  Dentist in San Antonio, Dr. Christopher Holland, and his professional colleagues at New Image Dentistry help patients with halitosis achieve great smelling breath and outstanding oral health, too. How can we help you?

Bad Breath Is Not A Joke

Don’t ignore your bad breath, or halitosis. Besides stressing your interpersonal relationships, halitosis often indicates oral and systemic health problems.

During an examination, your San Antonio dentist looks for signs of tooth decay and other oral health problems such as gum disease and improper tooth alignment.  Also, he asks patients what concerns them. Often a complaint of persistent bad breath is related to:

• Aromatic foods, such as onions and garlic, which are retained in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract
• Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco
• Drinking coffee and alcohol
• Fasting, dieting and poor hydration after strenuous exercise

Also, processed sugars and starches encourage the growth of oral bacteria. These microorganisms release Volatile Sulfur Compounds, or VSCs, causing the characteristic “rotten egg odor” of halitosis.

Simple halitosis can be eliminated with menu modifications, smoking cessation and adequate hydration. But, what can you do to address halitosis related to your health?

Your Health and Your Breath

Bad breath may be related to chronic or acute health conditions. For instance, poorly controlled blood glucose levels in diabetics cause a fruity-smelling bad breath. Chronic kidney disease makes breath smell like ammonia. Mucus from sinusitis or pneumonia smells on exhalation. GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux, is another reason for bad breath.

Plus, while cancer or Parkinson’s Disease do not cause halitosis, some of the drugs used to treat them may. Some psychiatric, hypertensive and allergy drugs also do.  Oxygen therapy for COPD and other respiratory issues leads to xerostomia, or chronic dry mouth. A very dry mouth usually causes bad breath.

Of course, it’s common sense that any oral health problem affects breath odor. Periodontal disease, neglected oral hygiene, tooth decay, and dental abscesses cause noticeable halitosis.

Bad Breath Treatments

The professional team at New Image Dentistry works to alleviate halitosis. For everyday bad breath, the dentists suggest simple lifestyle changes such as:

• Restricting aromatic foods and choosing lower sugar items
• Drinking plenty of water to away food residues, stimulate saliva and moisturize oral tissues
• Brushing your teeth at twice daily for two minutes as advised by the American Dental Association. Floss daily to remove plaque. Brush your tongue because its rough surface holds food residues and bacteria.
• See your San Antonio dentist twice a year for an oral exam and hygienic cleaning. The dentist uncovers cavities and gum disease, and your hygienist removes plaque and tartar.

Dr. Holland may recommend over the counter mouth rinses to control bad breath. Prescription rinses with zinc chloride fight oral bacteria and VSGs. He may refer a  patient to his or her primary care physician if he believes halitosis originates in a systemic health problem.

You Can Overcome Bad Breath

Please contact the caring team at New Image Dentistry for an appointment. Get your semi-annual exam and cleaning, and talk to the dentist about your breath issues. Together you can eliminate this worrisome oral health issue.