These holidays, you consume a lot of different foods and drinks, so it is natural that you would get bad breath. However, if you have bad breath, it might be more than just annoying. It could mean you have a serious health problem. Stephanie ML Wong, DMD, Honolulu’s leading dentist, advises you to not only practice good oral hygiene, but monitor your breath as well. It could indicate the presence of any of the following conditions:

• Lung & Stomach Cancers: Due to their invasive nature, cancer screenings aren’t always conducted unless absolutely necessary. However, certain compounds associated with cancer cause bad breath, which may be one of the disease’s first signs.
• Diabetes: When blood sugar levels are unstable, the body can’t fight the bacteria that cause bad breath. When the body does not have enough insulin, it may use fatty acids for energy. This leads to breath that smells fruity or smells like acetone.
• Heart Failure: Heart failure generates certain compounds that cause bad breath.
• Tooth Decay & Gingivitis: Odor-causing bacteria feed on food particles that are deposited in decayed enamel. When bacteria inflame the gums, it leads to a strange-smelling discharge. If the condition gets bad enough, tooth extraction may be necessary.
• Kidney Failure: When the kidney fails to filter out waste products, these products affect the whole body, including the mouth. This causes fishy-smelling breath.

If your breath smells strange this December, visit Stephanie ML Wong, DMD to get it examined. Providing the top dental care in Honolulu, HI, Stephanie and her staff will identify and treat bad breath or refer you to a doctor who can treat any potential causes. Dr. Wong and her staff will help you target the root causes so that you will not only have better breath, but will also be much healthier.

If you have bad breath and don’t know why, call Stephanie ML Wong, DMD at (808) 732-3072 to schedule an appointment, or visit the practice online.