Bad breath is an embarrassing problem that seems to strike at the worst possible times. Although breath odor can frequently be improved by brushing your teeth, sometimes you need a little help from your dentist. The staff of Four Corners Dental Group in Anchorage, AK offers a wide range of family dentistry services, including dental implants, veneers, and laser dentistry. They're here to explain the common causes behind bad breath.

• Food: If you ever forgot to take the garbage out before you went out of town for a few days, you won’t forget the terrible smell that greeted you when you returned. When tiny bits of food remain stuck in your teeth for days, the same thing happens on a much smaller scale. Brushing twice a day and flossing once per day will remove trapped food that can cause bad odors.

• Diet: Garlic and onions make food tasty, but they tend to linger on your breath for a long time. When you eat these foods, they release a sulfuric compound that travels to your lungs from your bloodstream. Every time you breathe, the people around you will smell onion or garlic. Eventually, the odor will diminish, but until then, you can use sugar-free gum or mints to mask it.
• Dry Mouth: Saliva helps wash away food particles that cause odors. If you think dry mouth is the cause of your bad breath, your dentist at Four Corners Dental Group may suggest drinking water more often or may recommend an artificial saliva product.
• Illness: Several illnesses and conditions can cause bad breath, including sinusitis, post-nasal drip, diabetes, acid reflux, liver or kidney disease, or chronic bronchitis. Treating the underlying problem may help improve your bad breath.

Concerned about bad breath? Visit the dentists at Four Corners Dental Group. They're known for providing Anchorage's gentlest and most reliable dentistry services in state-of-the-art facilities at two convenient locations. Call them today at (907) 258-3384 to make an appointment, and check out their website for more information about their laser dentistry and other family dentistry services.