Does Tartar Cause Bad Breath?

Bad breath is caused by what you eat, poor dental habits and underlying health conditions. By knowing the exact cause of bad breath or halitosis as this is also called, you can prevent it or at least treat it. This is a somewhat embarrassing problem that some people don’t know they have.

Poor dental habits:

Are you flossing and brushing regularly? (Twice a day to three times a day)?

Do you brush your tongue?

Are you a smoker?

If you answered no to any of these questions then unfortunately you do have some form of bad breath. If you aren’t brushing and flossing regularly you aren’t removing the smelly bacteria from your mouth. Your tongue has taste buds and these taste buds sometimes can become entrapped with bacteria and if you aren’t brushing your tongue with either a toothbrush or tongue cleaner than you aren’t removing the bacteria and they will sit on your tongue and ferment causing bad breath. Smoking is just a bad habit and causes bad breath and staining and a whole lot of other health problems.

Eating habits:

Well, this one is kind of obvious. Are you eating a lot of garlic and onions? If so, grab mouthwash, a toothbrush and some toothpaste and brush and rinse. Same with coffee smells good in the cup not on the breath. Gums and mints only mask the odor it does not get rid of it. By properly removing it by brushing and using mouth rinse you will get rid of the bacteria.

Underlying Health conditions:

Bad breath is a sign of periodontal disease and you may not even know it! See your dentist regularly and if you are having a problem with halitosis talk to him about it. He will help figure out what the cause is and help you solve it. It can also be a sign that your dental appliances, such as dentures and partials aren’t being properly cleaned or could be loose fitting. You have to clean your dentures and partials daily just like your teeth. You could also develop a yeast infection in your mouth and that can cause a terrible odor to permeate from your mouth.

As gross as that sounds you do need to see a professional to help clear that up. Dry mouth can also contribute to bad breath. This means that your salivary glands aren’t producing enough saliva and you aren’t able to wash away the bacteria from your mouth. See your dentist for ways to help with dry mouth.

Halitosis or bad breath is the result of many things but tartar is not one of them. If you or someone you know has bad breath see your dentist, they will help and not make you feel embarrassed in the process.

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