Are you embarrassed by your bad breath? It’s a common fear most people have, that they are speaking to people with smelly breath, and there’s nothing more embarrassing than having to cover your mouth while you speak – or sneak a smell of your own breath, but what is causing it? There are many culprits to bad breath, you just need to figure out which is your cause. Going to see Dr. Withers at J. Alexander Withers, DDS is always an option, but here are some things to think about if you’re suffering.

One of the top candidates for causing stinky breath is oral health. Not continuing to brush and floss your teeth is to remove the bacteria and plaque from your mouth, which can cause the stench. Buildup of debris and plaque can begin to smell after some time and can even start to trap food particles on your tonsils and tongue.

Another cause for bad breath is decay. Decay begins with poor oral health as well, but really takes place when the left-over food and debris begin to rot. When this occurs, your mouth and tongue will begin to give off an odor.

Dry mouth could also be a cause. When saliva isn’t producing as it should, your mouth begins to smell stale. Saliva helps clean your mouth, naturally, washing away food particles. When you do not have proper amounts of saliva forming, bad breath is likely to begin.

And finally, another runner up for bad breath would be diet. High sugar or protein diets, or high protein and low carb diets are a proponent for a foul odor. High sugar diets usually coincide with halitosis, which happens when sugar reacts with bad bacteria. When your food properly metabolizes, you will have better smelling breath.

If you’re suffering, contact Dr. Withers and team. They will be able to help you find the best solution for your bad breath.