Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is something that most of us endure at one point or, another. It may be caused by that garlic meal we prepared last night, the natural morning breath, or even a significant cause. It can be pretty embarrassing, but still, do you know if cavities could be one of them? Most of us ignore the connection between oral health and bad breath. So, will cavities also contribute to having bad breath? In this article, we’ll answer that and look at some trending solutions to help you attack bad breath effectively.
Understanding the Basics: Can Cavities Cause Bad Breath?
Bad breath, interestingly, does result from cavities. Cavities are dental caries, little holes in your teeth caused by bacteria. Particles of food will stay stuck to your teeth if you don’t clean them out perfectly, thereby becoming a nourishing ground for breeding bacteria. This can lead to the rotting decay of the tooth as well as stinky breath.
Bacteria that cause cavities feed inside your mouth on leftover sugars and starches. Breaking down those particles into acids, they leave behind small holes in your enamel, which makes cavities. In turn, this often leads to having an unpleasant odor, and chronic bad breath occurs.
Why do cavities cause bad breath?
There are many reasons for this foul odor that cavities have. In this way, the amount of bacterial buildup inside the cavity is the explanation. Bacteria found in your mouth produce sulfur compounds as they multiply. Sure enough, the greatest cause of offensive breath is, of course, sulfur compounds. A cavity has provided ample hiding places for bacteria, where, in these areas, they feed on food particles, causing a lingering smell as they break down the parts.
The following are some of the critical reasons why cavities may cause bad breath:
- Bacteria Growth:Cavities cause little pits and holes in the teeth where the bacteria can hide themselves very easily. This provides scope for the rapid multiplication of the bacteria.
- Tooth Decay: When cavities worsen, it leads to tooth decay, which can develop a bad smell. The decaying material along with the bacteria gives rise to foul breath.
- Plaque Build-up: If you don’t brush properly you tend to leave back a sticky film of bacteria on the surface of various teeth. Plaque is the most common reason for cavities and bad breath.
- Infected Gums: Cavities can also affect the teeth surrounding the actual cavities. When this happens, the gums get infected and eventually, gum disease breaks out. Gum disease brings about bad breath too.
Other Causes of Bad Breath
Bad breath is not however caused by a cavity. Other causes include but are not limited to:
- Poor Oral Hygiene: When you do not brush your teeth and floss, bits of food remain in your mouth. This leads to the multiplication of bacteria thus bad breath.
- Dry Mouth: The saliva constantly rinses away the food remnants and the bacteria in your mouth, thus cleaning the mouth. If you tend to have a dry mouth, the chances of the bacteria accumulating and causing bad breath are high. Some of the many causes include dehydration, some medications, and medical conditions.
- Periodontal disease, or gum disease: This is the second most common cause of bad breath. It occurs when plaque develops along the gum lines, which eventually leads to infection and inflammation.
- Tobacco usage: Smoking combined with tobacco causes bad breath. This also increases your chances of getting gum disease and oral cancer.
- Food: Smelly ingredients include onions, garlic, and spices that contain sulfur. When you dissolve these substances in your mouth, they get absorbed into your bloodstream. This causes bad breath to become temporarily problematic.
Active Treatments to Stop Bad Breath Caused by Cavities
If the cause of your bad breath is due to cavities, then the silver lining is that there are established remedies to treat the condition. Here are the new guidelines to eliminate bad mouth odor and improve oral hygiene:
1. Improve Your Oral Hygiene Routine
One of the best ways that bad mouth odor and cavities can be prevented is through the regular practice of an oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth at least two times a day with fluoride toothpaste to help combat the onset of cavities, and remember not to neglect to brush your tongue as it has a favorite breeding ground for those nasty bacteria. Daily flossing will complement this habit since it helps remove any food debris trapped between your teeth.
2. Antibacterial Mouthwash
An antibacterial mouthwash is a medication product that kills bacteria inside the mouth thus reducing one’s risk of getting cavities and the infection known as bad breath. You look for a mouthwash that focuses on treating the condition of halitosis, and plaque. Swishing with mouthwash for 30 seconds after brushing may freshen up your breath and thus make your dental health better.
3. Drink Ample Water
Drinking water prevents harboring food particles and other bacteria that cause cavities, gum diseases, and bad breath. Water facilitates the secretion of saliva. Saliva serves as a natural antibacterial agent against bad breath.
4. Healthy Diet
What you eat each day contributes to your oral health. A diet with more sugars and carbohydrates increases your chances of getting cavities, which then results in bad breath. Stay away from the most sugary snacks and drinks. You can consume crunchy fruits and vegetables, dairy, and calcium foods.
5. Chew Sugar-Free Gum
So the best remedy is to chew sugar-free gum. Chewing sugar-free gum will freshen up your breath besides reducing your cavity-prone risk. The gum will stimulate the production of saliva within your mouth, which in turn keeps it clean by washing away the bacteria. Ensure that the gum chosen contains xylitol, a natural sweetener that the latest studies have proven to inhibit the growth of bacteria that provoke cavity formation.
6. Periodic dental checkup
Regular dental visits ensure you prevent and treat cavities in your teeth. During a dental checkup, the dentist shall look for all early symptoms of dental caries, and the appropriate treatments can be advised before they get worse. Your dentist will clean appropriately and remove plaque and tartar formation in your teeth causing bad breath.
7. Fillings or Crowns
If you already have cavities, the treatment of those cavities can help eliminate bad breath. Ordinary repairs for decayed teeth include fillings or crowns. Once the cavity is filled, the bacterial buildup will decrease, which can help freshen up your breath.
8. Laser Dentistry for Cavities
One of the newer and more popular methods is laser dentistry. Laser treatments are, without doubt, the most popular and are slowly replacing the old cavities drilling practice. As laser treatment is considered to be more precise, painless, and helps in retaining a healthy mouth by removing bacteria causing bad breath, it proves to be an excellent method of treating cavities and eliminating bad breath.
How to Prevent Cavities and Bad Breath
You are always right when you say that “prevention is better than cure.” To stay from having cavities and bad breath in the future, remind yourself of the following:
- Brush and floss daily: Cavities are prevented if one brushes and flosses daily.
- Do not eat candies or drink sweet beverages: Restrict your sugar-laden sweets and beverages to protect your teeth from decay.
- Drink enough water: Hydration during the day keeps your mouth moist and bacteria in check.
- See your dentist regularly: Such check-ups may help monitor signs of cavities and bad breath, so you may be able to identify remedies to some root problems before they become serious issues.
Conclusion:
Cavities cause bad breath, and the bacteria and decay that come with cavities are a big source of this bad breath. The good news, however, is that proper oral hygiene, a healthy diet, and regular dental visits can prevent and treat all those cavities to turn aside bad breath.
Maybe by embracing these trending solutions expounded on here, you’ll find that your breath is fresher and better care overall for your oral health. Go into the world confidently without bugs that cause halitosis rearing their ugly heads. The mouth is the gateway to general health and takes care of itself if looked after.