I’m Greg & Joanne Szalai of Szalai & Szalai DDS – Allen Park Dental Care. Today’s post offers some answers to common questions about bad breath.
Q. My wife says my breath is awful, but I brush twice a day. Shouldn’t that be enough?
A. Bacteria can propagate and stink in hidden crevices that can only be reached with floss. Time to start flossing. If your breath hasn’t improved in a few months, make an appointment so we can examine other possible causes of your halitosis.
Also keep in mind that brushing just the teeth may not get rid of food particles between the teeth and up in the gums. Gently brushing the gums, sides of the mouth and the tongue in addition to the teeth may make the difference.
Q. My breath seems to get worse during hay fever season. What’s up with that?
A. Allergies can change mouth odor in a couple of ways. First, anything that stimulates post-nasal drip can be a trigger because bacteria at the back of the throat mixes with the mucous and exudes a smelly odor as it breaks down. Second, hay fever medications often cause dry mouth which can lead to stinky breath. Antihistamines can reduce post-nasal drip so this is a catch-22. If you take antihistamines, drink water frequently throughout the day to keep your mouth moist, suck on sugar-free mints to stimulate saliva production, and rinse with a non-alcohol mouth rinse.
Q. What health conditions can bring about bad breath?
A. As considered before, any condition that lessens saliva production frequently causes halitosis. It is also a common side effect of diabetes, kidney failure, and liver failure. Of course, if your kidneys or liver is failing, you have bigger problems.
Q. Why did my wife’s breath became offensive when she went on a strict low-carb diet?
A. Ketones were possibly the culprit. Ketones are produced when the body digests fat – which is usually the goal of a low-carb plan. On the flip side, she was probably not cheating!
Contact Szalai & Szalai DDS – Allen Park Dental Care:
313-928-2323
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
5329 Allen Rd
Allen Park, Michigan
48101
