Whether you’re a big fan of Halloween or not, there’s no denying that this time of year provides plenty of opportunities for people to huddle up closely. You might be taking in the latest horror movie or touring a haunted house with your friends.

In other words, you may find yourself in pretty tight circles with others, and one thing that shouldn’t be scaring people away at times like these is bad breath!

If your mouth isn’t fresh and clean, visit LakeCrest Dental in Broken Arrow, OK so we can help you get to the source of your smelly breath and offer ways to combat it.

Don’t Scare Others Away With Bad Breath!

When you notice your breath starting to smell worse, and you’ve had little-to-no success in mitigating it with gum, mints, or mouthwash, then you may need to consider a few possible causes so you can get closer to a solution:

*Watch What You Eat*

It’s no secret that what you eat will affect your breath.

The common culinary culprits are garlic and onions, or any similarly pungent ingredients or dishes.

But what’s also responsible for bad breath, also called halitosis, is the leftover food particles and debris that gets stuck in the nooks, crannies, and tight spaces between and around your teeth.

That’s because food will quickly start to smell, as you know, but it will also feed bad bacteria that will not only stink up your mouth, but also wreak havoc on your oral health.

*Watch What You Drink*

Your breath can be affected by what you do, and don’t, drink.

For example, drinking alcohol in excess will dehydrate you, which causes dry mouth.

Similarly, not drinking enough water will cause the same problem.

A dry mouth means you’re not producing enough saliva, which your teeth and gums need to fight off harmful bacteria, as well as fend off acids that would otherwise break down your tooth enamel and gum tissue.

The lesson here is that if you want to prevent bad breath, you should limit alcohol consumption and drink plenty of water each day.

*Watch Out For Gum Disease*

In all seriousness, bad breath isn’t scary.

An embarrassing problem, sure, but not scary.

What is scary, however, is a particularly serious threat to your oral health that may be behind it. Gum disease not only leads to tooth loss if gone untreated, but also a long list of other potentially dangerous health conditions. That’s because gum disease is essentially a bacterial infection that begins in the mouth and can easily enter your bloodstream if given the chance.

How does it relate to halitosis?

Well, bad breath is one of the red flags that gum disease has begun developing inside your mouth. So if you’ve noticed a change in your breath that seems resistant to OTC mouthwash, mints, or chewing gum, you should visit us right away so we can give you a thorough dental exam and look for signs of gum disease.

Freshen Your Breath!

It’s a haunted house touring, horror film watching, costume party hopping time of year!

Make sure your breath is fresh and clean through it all with help from our team at LakeCrest Dental! We’ll investigate the source of your halitosis and help you find lasting solutions.

Call our Broken Arrow, OK dental office today at 918-205-4492 or fill out our online form to request an appointment.