Bad breath (or halitosis) happens to all of us from time to time, and nobody likes it. As well as being a social embarrassment, bad breath can also be a warning sign of more serious dental problems. By analyzing the type of bad breath patients complains of, we can help determine its cause.
What Causes Bad Breath?
External Factors
- Food – If your breath is especially strong after fragrant meals with garlic or onions, there’s unfortunately not much to be done except to go easy on these foods.
- After Mouthwash – Most mouthwashes are alcohol-based, which dries out the mouth and inhibits the flow of saliva. Try this instead: brush and floss again. It stimulates saliva flow while disrupting the bacteria that were causing the odor in the first place.
Internal Causes
- Teeth or Gums – Your halitosis is sending a signal there’s a serious dental problem that needs correction. You won’t get rid of it until you’ve eliminated the tooth decay or gum disease and restored periodontal health. Call our office for a breath analysis that can identify whether your breath is related to gum disease or tooth decay.
- “Morning Breath” – While you were sleeping, so was your saliva. Reduced flow caused bacteria to grow in your mouth. It helps to brush and floss away trapped bacteria before bed, then have a glass of water at the nightstand if you wake up dry.
- From Heartburn – Some bad smells come not from the oral cavity but farther down the throat and into the stomach. Stress, acid stomach, the seeping of stomach acid back up through the valve sealing your esophagus from your stomach (“heartburn”) all may be culprits. A visit to our office (or your medical doctor) will help you know for sure.
Dr. Angela Burns moved to Austin 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with our beautiful city. Dr. Burns is originally from the Texarkana area. She attended Texas A&M for her undergraduate degree and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center for her degree in dental surgery (DDS). Dr. Burns is committed to providing her patients with gentle, technologically advanced dental treatment. She attends an average of 60 hours of continuing education every year. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association, and the Capital Area Dental Society. Dr. Burns and her husband, Gary, have an 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, who is a proud 6th grader at Hill Country Middle School. She is also very involved in the Eanes PTO, her church, and loves raising her family in the Westlake community. “Growing up, I was drawn to mediating and helping others feel more included and less anxious. I was a camp counselor, student government officer and being the oldest of five, I was the family mediator. I found that I had a calling to help alleviate stressful situations for others and realized that being a good listener was something that was key to this. These skills really helped guide me into becoming a dentist that has based my practice on relationships, empathy and a sense of comfort. I knew that I wanted to provide an atmosphere that felt like home when others walked in. Our practice is small, personal and state of the art and we hope you feel like you’re hanging out with friends when you are here!” When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Burns enjoys traveling, hiking the greenbelt, enjoying Austin’s music scene, and eating Amy’s Ice Cream.
