If you are having problems trying to get rid of bad breath and nothing seems to be working, then there may be a bigger medical issue causing the issue. Just a few of the potential problems that may be causing bad breath include:
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Disease
- Upper Respiratory Infection
- Acid Reflux
- Periodontal Disease
Of all the potential factors listed above, the most probable by far is periodontal disease. Also known as gum disease, the condition is caused by an infection in the gums. Anaerobic (without oxygen) bacteria are the culprits behind this infection and the disease typically starts out very rare as a very common dental problem: gingivitis. While the symptoms are very mild and typically involve little to no pain, warning signs to look out for include:
- Bleeding gums, especially when brushing or dining on hard foods such as apples, pears, or corn-on-the-cob
- Soreness in gingival tissue when touching
- Inflammation of gums
- Chronic bad breath
Gum disease begins when you fail to properly remove the layer of plaque that forms upon your teeth and gums. The anaerobic bacteria love plaque and hide within and behind this layer because it is a low oxygen environment and the microbes breed best in these settings. If you do not catch plaque in time, it will in fact harden into tartar while your bad breath problems worsen in the process. In time, this infection will grow more severe along with the symptoms until it eventually spreads below the gum line.
Once the infection spreads to this point, it will begin to cause the destruction of the gums and supporting bone tissue around your teeth. By this point, the chronic bad breath will be quite severe and you should notice a grayish film on the teeth and gums. The bacteria produce toxins that literally dissolve your gingival and supporting bone tissue until you start to notice that your teeth have become loose.
If you do not seek immediate treatment for the advanced periodontal disease, the chronic bad breath will literally be the least of you concerns. In time, the teeth will fall out as the infection continues to spread throughout your body into other organs, such as the heart. In addition to never-ending bad breath problems, other medical issues will become very likely due to the spreading bacteria through your bloodstream, such as:
- Stroke
- Heart Attack
- Infective Endocarditis
- Increase susceptibility to minor disease and infection due to a constant strain upon your immune system
Therefore, the best bad breath tip is to see your dentist when normal oral hygiene is unable to get rid of the problem. It is very common for bad breath to be an indicator of an underlying disease or infection. So, if you cannot get rid of bad breath using standard oral hygiene practices, consult with your dentist immediately as most medical problems can be stopped if caught in time-including periodontal disease.
