2 Hidden Reasons You're Dealing With Bad Breath

When speaking with others, you want to be confident about the words that are coming out of your mouth, but you also want to be confident about your breath. No one wants to be the person with bad breath. Sure, what you eat and your oral care regimen have an influence on how fresh your breath is, but these are not the only contributing factors. If you are having issues with bad breath and can't seem to find the reason, familiarizing yourself with some hidden causes for bad breath can help lead you in the right direction.

Medications

If you are taking a medication that lists dry mouth as a side-effect, this might be the reason for your breath concerns. Saliva plays an important part in cleaning your mouth. An adequate amount of saliva helps clear and wash away all the odor-causing bacteria and food particles that are in your mouth. When you're suffering from dry mouth, these odor causing sources remain in the mouth, leading to bad breath.

Take some time to pull out your daily medications and read the labels to see if dry mouth is a concern. To help combat this side effect, consider using a mouthwash that has been designed to help treat dry mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum can also help treat this issue, as the gum can help stimulate the flow of saliva.

Avoiding Carbs

You might be surprised to learn that bad breath can also come from what you're not eating. This is particularly true when it comes to not eating carbs. In recent years, carbs have become a no-no for many people trying to lose weight. By limiting carbs, the body naturally goes into a process called ketosis. Ketosis is when the body is thought to be in an ultimate fat-burning state.

However, ketosis also causes the body to secrete chemicals into your breath that are known to cause odor. Even with regular brushing, ketosis breath won't go away. The only way to overcome it is to add more carbs into your diet. If you're on a no-carb or low-carb diet, see if adding a few more carbs to your diet helps resolve your issue.

A dental provider like Plaza Family Dentistry can also help you get to the bottom of your bad breath concerns. If issues with odor seem to be looming, it might be a good idea to make an appointment with your provider to get the bottom of the problem.

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