Bad breath is unpleasant and embarrassing. It can harm you socially, romantically, and even professionally. For some people, bad breath goes beyond typical “morning breath” and can become a chronic condition that isn’t easily treated, even with frequent brushing, flossing, and the usage of mouthwash.

Bad breath has several common causes that often require treatment at a dentist’s office. Some of those causes include:

Poor oral hygiene—Many people have bad breath before they brush their teeth, but for some, the problem persists even after routine oral hygiene tasks. That’s because they may have large buildups of plaque, tartar, or even food particles in and around their teeth. Without a professional cleaning, those buildups can continue to cause bad breath.

Infected gumsPeriodontal disease—or gum disease—is a bacterial infection of the gums that results in inflammation in its early stages and soft tissue damage and bone loss in its later stages. At-home dental care usually isn’t sufficient to treat infected gums, especially as the disease progresses. That’s why it’s essential to see a dentist for treatment.

Smoking and drinking alcohol—Dry mouth often leads to bad breath. Two common causes of dry mouth are smoking and drinking alcohol. In addition to causing immediate bad breath, they can also cause chronic bad breath due to their effects on saliva production and even the bacteria-fighting antibodies in the saliva itself.

Bacteria-laden tongue—The tongue can harbor huge amounts of bacteria. Unless you specifically target it while you’re brushing your teeth, that bacteria can continue to multiply, causing bad breath. Using your toothbrush or a tongue scraper to clean your tongue on a regular basis can help you keep the problem under control.

101st Adult Dentistry Treats Bad Breath and Gum Disease in Clarksville

You shouldn’t have to be embarrassed by your smile, your teeth, or your breath. At 101st Adult Dentistry, our dental experts provide a wide variety of services, including cleanings, periodontal disease treatments, cosmetic dentistry, and more.

Request a dental appointment today by using our online form or by calling us at (931) 906-8800.