All About Bad Breath: Teeth and Oral Health

Of all the things that cause bad breath, teeth and their health may be one of the least well-known.   Why is this? When we think of bad breath and what causes it, we do not usually think of dental problems. Rather, we picture eating foods like onions and garlic, or someone not brushing, or sleeping and waking up with a white gunk covering our tongues. We do not usually think that the health and well-being of our teeth plays a role, but it does – an important one. If you have problems with chronic bad breath and cannot figure out why this is, then the health of your teeth may be the issue. Here I will help you with determining the causes of bad breath, plus various treatment options for your teeth so that you can care for them with proper hygiene and prevent these conditions from occurring.

Anatomy of a Tooth

Your tooth is an important and integral part of oral health because of what it allows you to do: eat. Not only that; a tooth that is in poor health will cause you pain and misery, and can even result in a dangerous infection in your mouth through bacteria. The tooth consists of three parts, generally speaking. The first and outermost component of the tooth is the enamel, that hard, white substance that we see when we flash our pearly whites. Beneath the enamel is what is called the dentin, which forms most of the substance of your teeth. The third component, located beneath the dentin, is the pulp, which houses nutrients and organic material. And of course, below this are the roots, which are implanted into the gums.

Your enamel is the hardest substance in your body – but it cannot resist acidic agents, such as sugar. If you drink a lot of caffeinated beverages, or eat a lot of sweets, then the sugar will eat away at the enamel, exposing the dentin. This results in a cavity. If the damage is severe, it can even penetrate down into the pulp, which results in pulpitis and a lot of pain and agony for you. If your tooth becomes damaged in this way, a visit to the dentist for treatment is in order.

Bad Breath and Teeth

Understanding how a tooth works is important to finding a bad breath cure because of one concept: bacteria. Bacteria naturally inhabit your mouth and consume dead tissue and other particles on your gums, tongue, and teeth. If given a chance, though, they will gather in places they should not and multiply. If you have a cavity in your teeth, then bacteria can form there and start to produce what we call VSCs, or volatile sulfur compounds. These are the culprits behind bad odors.

To take care of your teeth and avoid chronic halitosis, you need to adopt and follow proper hygiene. Brush your teeth regularly, especially after eating. Floss them regularly as well to get food away from your enamel and your gums. Also, if you use teeth whitening products, then be sure to brush and keep your mouth clean, to avoid any further bacteria from entering. Teeth whitening products can help bad breath by further cleaning your enamel. In summary, just remember this: When it comes to bad breath, teeth are too important to ignore.