“I have really bad breath, even though I brush and floss. What could be causing it?”

You need to see your dentist. Are you flossing and brushing your teeth correctly? When was the last time you had your teeth checked. Do you clean your tongue. Seeing new patients, after OUR OFFICE , x-rays and examines their teeth, we clean their teeth and show them how to floss and brush correctly. We have had patients say that no one ever showed them how to floss and brush their teeth. Before I became a dentist, I was a patient going to see dentists. I had a particular problem and I toured the country seeing dentists who could possibly help me. I supervised hygienists. Being a primary 1st grade teacher, repetition is a must. You have to ask the person cleaning your teeth how to floss and brush correctly. You have to take the floss and slide it down between two teeth. You guide the floss along the side of a tooth, you go down as far as you can. You gently scrape the side of your tooth. If you feel something hard as you move the floss up and down, you may have hardened calculus below your gums. When you brush, you start at the back corner of your mouth. Make sure you floss behind the last tooth in your mouth. Your mouth has 4 corners.
After flossing BEHIND the last tooth in each corner of your mouth, take a soft toothbrush and brush BEHIND the last tooth in one corner your mouth. Place your toothbrush half on the tooth and half on your gum. Brush your gum line area BACK AND FORTH GENTLY SEVERAL TIMES. MOVE TO THE NEXT 2-3 TEETH. YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT 2-3 TEETH BACK AND FORTH. YOU GO AROUND THE GUM LINE UNTIL YOU REACH THE OTHER CORNER. BRUSH BEHIND THE LAST TOOTH AND MOVE TO THE GUM TISSUE WHERE YOUR TONGUE OR PALATE IS. YOU HAVE BONE AND GUM TISSUE WHERE YOUR TONGUE AND PALATE ARE. AFTER YOU HAVE BRUSHED YOUR GUM LINE. UPPER AND LOWER TONGUE (LINGUAL) GUM LINE AND PALATAL GUM LINE. NOW YOU BRUSH YOUR FLAT SURFACES. UPPER AND LOWER. RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH WARM SALT WATER. NOW YOU CLEAN YOUR TONGUE. YOU CAN BUY A TONGUE CLEANER,
OR YOU CAN TAKE A TEASPOON. TURN THE SPOON SO THE ROUND SIDE IS TOWARDS YOUR PALATE. YOU START IN THE CENTER OF YOUR TONGUE. GENTLY SCRAPE YOUR TONGUE AS YOU MOVE THE SPOON FORWARD AND OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. YOU WILL FIND A SLIMY WHITISH MASS. THAT IS WHAT IS HIDING OUT IN THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES OF YOUR TONGUE. NOW DO THE OTHER TWO SIDES. RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH WARM SALT WATER. THEN GARGLE. WHEN YOU SEE YOUR DENTIST, YOUR TEETH WILL BE CHECKED FOR CRACKS, IF YOU HAVE CROWNS. ONE MAY HAVE FRACTURED. A RESTORATION MAY HAVE CRACKED AND IS LEAKING. WE EAT EVERY DAY. PLAQUE WILL FORM DAILY WHETHER WE EAT OR DON'T EAT.
WE HAVE TO FLOSS AND BRUSH CORRECTLY DAILY. YOU WOULD NOT EAT FROM A DIRTY
FORK. KNIFE OR SPOON. YOU EITHER CLEAN THE UTENSILS OR TAKE CLEAN ONES. BUT WE PUT FOOD IN OUR MOUTHS THAT SOME OF US GET CLEANED CORRECTLY TWICE A YEAR.
GUM DISEASE IS CONTAGIOUS. YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR HOME CARE IS LIKE. WOULD YOU WANT TO KISS A PERSON WHOSE MOUTH CARE IS THE SAME AS YOURS OR POSSIBLY WORSE? WE ALL HAVE TO RETHINK HOME CARE.


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You should see a gastroenterologist to check your digestive track

Brushing your tongue as for back as you can go helps to prevent bad breath as the sulfur emitting bacteria that cause most bad breath hide there.

One cause could be your digestive system. Try a Water Flosser.

There are many possible causes for this condition. Some of them are: tonsil stones (small whitish clumps caught in the folds of your tonsils), post-nasal drip due to sinus issues, stomach acid reaching your mouth via vomiting or acid reflux, needing a professional dental exam and cleaning. Good luck in your quest for fresh breath. I hope this helps!

If you have already had a dental exam to rule out Periodontal disease then the next thing to check is your tonsils and adenoids. The Otolaryngologists can help with that and if it is something other than the lymphatic glands they can refer you for systemic causes such as diabetes. I left out your tongue but assuming you brush it since you brush and floss daily.

The bacteria on your tongue and cheek or possible decay or dry mouth.

Sinus drainage over retained wisdom teeth, enlarged adenoids, blocked salivary glands are just some of the possible causative agents for the problem that you described, which will involve not only your dentist, but also your ear, nose, and throat specialist or internist. Do not overlook the actual anatomy of the tongue itself as the papilla in the tongue also have a lot to do with taste in the mouth, as does your diet.

Try brushing your tongue, cheeks and inside of your lips. If that doesn't help see a physician to determine if you have post nasal drip.

Bad breath can be a combination of many factors. Flossing and brushing well after every meal will go a long way to curb the issues involved if you include brushing the roof of your mouth and your tongue far back as you can comfortably get. Food particles, bacteria and there waste products-volatile sulfates are the contributors. Avoid alcohol containing rinses or sprays because they contribute to the problem by drying out tissues and saliva which increases volatile sulfates (rotten egg) and methyl mercaptan (barnyard) smells. So, drink plenty of water, use alcohol-free mouth washes and antibacterial sprays, and get your teeth and gums professionally checked cleaned three times a year.