Many people with bad breath are unaware of it. But other people aren’t.
The problem is that most people are so polite that they are unlikely to tell you that you have bad breath. Even your closest friends and family members probably will just ignore your bad breath rather than tell you about it for fear of offending you. So it’s entirely possible that you have bad breath right now and don’t even know it.
Causes of Halitosis
The technical name for bad breath is halitosis and it can be caused by a number of different factors. Perhaps the most common is poor oral health care habits.
When you don’t brush and flush regularly, food particles can become trapped in the spaces between your teeth. And it doesn’t take very long for these particles to begin to break down, causing bacteria to develop. This bacteria can cause unpleasant odors inside your mouth. As you exhale, these odors can be detected by other people.
Unfortunately, you probably can’t detect your own bad breath. If you have been living with bad breath for a while, your own sense of smell can become accustomed to the odors in your own mouth. As a result, other people are offended by your bad breath and you don’t even know you have it.
Cures for Bad Breath
Brushing and flossing regularly are the best way to avoid bad breath. But sometimes, there are other causes — including tooth decay, gum disease, or even an abscess — that may only be detectable by your dentist. That’s why it’s important to schedule annual checkups with your dentists at least twice per year.
Your dentist will be honest with you about your bad breath. Plus, the exam can identify and correct the causes of your halitosis so that you never have to worry about your breath again.