Bad Breath

Nobody likes bad breath, but if you find that you’re spending an unusual amount of money on Listerine, it may be time to get help!

Forget about garlic - truly bad breath may not be caused by food. More specifically, bad breath resulting from spicy or strongly seasoned foods only lasts for a little while, and usually isn’t all that bad.

Ongoing and chronic bad breath can indicate a number of oral health problems like:

• an abscessed or rotting tooth;
• gum disease; or
• a throat infection.

Rather than continuing to cover up halitosis with mints and mouthwash, see your dentist for a professional opinion.{relatedarticles}

Preventative Care is Important

Don't wait until symptoms develop to visit your dentist. Preventative care is very important, so be sure to practice good oral hygiene:  floss your teeth every day, and brush your teeth at least twice a day as well. If you’re going to use mouthwash, talk to your dentist or doctor first to determine whether or not your bad breath is being caused by a more serious health problem.

Taking care of your teeth is an important part of taking care of your overall health. In addition to the signs you’ve read here, there’s one more indicator that will let you know when you need to visit a dentist: your calendar. Most dentists recommend that you schedule a visit every six months for a cleaning and checkup.