Bad breath is something that most people can identify with. However, if you notice that your breath smells bad on a consistent basis, there may be reasons for that which you need to address. Here are a few reasons your breath may not smell good.

Too Much Protein When You're on a Low-Carb Diet

If you are like many people, you may want to lose weight. One of the ways to do this is to adjust your diet, and if you are on a low-carb diet, your breath may smell foul.

The reason for this is that when you slash the amount of carbs you eat each day, your body loses its primary source of glucose (sugar), which carbs contain and is used for energy in the body. As part of your new diet, you might be eating high amounts of protein to meet your daily calorie requirements. You might not know this, but your body can convert any extra protein in your body into glucose for energy. When this happens, the chemical reaction in your body produces ammonia. That may be causing your stinky breath.

Your kidneys are able to filter out that ammonia over time, but if you keep eating high amounts of protein, be aware that bad breath is a possibility because your body is turning extra protein into glucose. Talk to your family dentist about how you can keep your breath fresh in spite of your diet.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

If you are developing a cavity, that could be a reason your breath is not very good. As bacteria interacts with your teeth and the decaying process begins by making a cavity, smelly breath can be a sign of what is happening in your mouth.

Tooth decay is just one of the dental issues that can lead to bad breath. If your gums are red and inflamed, you could be in the beginning stages of gum disease, in part caused by bacteria sitting under your gumline. This bacteria produces a compound containing sulfur, which can cause your breath to smell badly.

Your Mouth is Too Dry

If you notice that you have a dry mouth on a regular basis, that might be a reason for your chronic bad breath. When your mouth is dry, that typically indicates that your saliva production is not very high. Saliva is one way for your body to wash away bacteria inside your mouth; if you aren't producing enough saliva, the bacteria can settle in, multiply and lead to foul-smelling odors.

To make sure you have enough saliva, it is vital that you are drinking enough clean water during the day. Enjoy some water periodically as the day wears on.

You may also have a dry mouth because that condition is a side effect of certain medications you might be taking. Anxiety and depression medications might lead to this kind of problem, as may antihistamines. If you must take the medicine, consult your dentist; they may be able to prescribe you special mouthwashes to use so that your mouth stays properly hydrated.

For more information, contact Plaza Family Dentistry or a similar location.

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