Have you ever woken up one morning, yawned to take a deep breath in, only to realize how bad your breath is....yikes! So other than running for the mouthwash or a toothbrush, what can you actually do about your bad breath? So while I personally don’t have excess gum or tooth disease, I have gone through periods of my life where I noticed some unusually bad breath I found myself googling the cause and even wondering in horror is this halitosis?
Well for me the answer was no, but the following are the most common causes of halitosis:
Bacteria in the gums usually due to food and other particulates
Tobacco use
Ketogenic diets
Allergens and rhinitis
Poor dental Hygiene
Gum disease
Plaque Build up
Dry Mouth(often due to medication or conditions such as Sjogren’s Syndrome, etc.)
Gum Disease and Plaque Build-up are bolded above because they are the most common symptoms. Here are 6 ways to identify if you have gum disease:
Heredity – do you have a family member(s) who have had a lot of periodontal work and possibly bad breath?
Inflammation – are your gums sensitive and if poked by a potato chip will hurt for a day or more?
Bleeding – does flossing cause excess bleeding? (Some bleeding is normal)
Bad breath
Deep pockets- large space around all of your teeth and gums
Gum recession and sensitivity around each of your teeth.
Here are the best ways to reduce the inflammation and gum disease in your mouth:
iiiSee your dentist and get a referral to a periodontist.
Use a water pick instead of floss.
Eat an anti-flammatory diet (basics lower carbohydrates, remvove dairy products and eat good oils such as fish and avocado.
CoEnzyme Q10 – this helps to reduce gum inflammation and it can come in mouthwash but I also recommend doing it in Supplement form 100mg/day. (PerioBrite Mouthwash by Nature’s Answer).
L-Methylfolate 1 mg (Also Known as vitamin B9) a day especially if you have the genetic mutation for MTHFR.