Why is bad breath happening?
Bad breath(or halitosis) could originate from inside and outside the mouth.
The main causes located within the mouth are:
1.Poor oral hygiene
-If you don’t take good care of your teeth and miss regular check-ups with your dentist , you could be leaving some small food particles behind. These are going to rot over the course of the time and will attract bacteria causing infections
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Dry mouth
– Saliva naturally protects your teeth by washing away acidic residue and not allowing them to break your teeth down . It also repairs the enamel of the teeth if it does become damaged.When your body doesn’t produce sufficient saliva small food bits are left behind and this results in bad breath
3.Periodontal disease
– Unpleasant breath from your mouth could be one of the first symptoms of having a gum disease. Bacteria thriving below the level of the gums and the products of their activity cause halitosis.
4.Tongue coating
-Bacteria,food debris and dead cells can get trapped on the even tongue surface. They would interact leading to production of sulfur containing compounds and subsequently bad breath
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Tooth decay
– When the tooth structure has broken down and cavity develops it will become easier for food to get trapped and more bacteria to accumulate. That will result in bad breath and further damage to the tooth
The factors outside the mouth include:
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Smoking
-Using tobacco products could cause a large number of problems like gum disease, oral cancer, change in taste and halitosis . Tobacco contain chemicals that mix with your saliva and cause bad breath.
2.Foods
-Foods containing high levels of sulfur(like onion or garlic)and spicy foods could cause bad breath.This is because of their chemicals entering the blood stream, then traveling to lungs and reaching your mouth and nose
3.Drugs
-Any medication that causes the mouth to dry out could be a reason for bad breath. Some of these are antidepressants,antihistamines, chemotherapy medications, antifungals, steroids, and even dietary supplements.
4.Medical conditions
– Digestive system issues such as stomach reflux,obstructions,hepatic cirrhosis and cancer
– Respiratory problems such as infection of lungs, bronchitis, windpipe and chronic sinusitis
– Other conditions: diabetes, kidney disease and schizophrenia
How to prevent and get rid of the bad breath?
That will depend on the cause of the problem but here are some examples.
Improving the oral hygiene and regular visits to the dental office are of paramount importance. Brushing twice a day,using floss or interdental brushes and scraping tongue is essential. The aim is to reduce the food impaction, debris and bacteria build-up.
If you have tooth, decay,abscess ,dry mouth or gum disease you should not ignore it and have to go to see your dentist.They will deal with those problems and refer you to another health care provider if necessary.
All medical conditions resulting in bad breath should be diagnosed and treated timely. Seeing your doctors ,at least yearly, will help you stay on the top of any potential health issues and give you peace of mind.
Breaking bad habits such as tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks consumption would be very beneficial . Not only will this reduce the chance for bad breath but you will also get better looking and healthier teeth.
Stay hydrated and don’t let your mouth dry. You should drink 6-8 glasses or cups of fluid a day so don’t forget this.
Foods that make you chew, like carrots and apples, should be part of your diet. A good way to relieve dry mouth is to eat chicken, fish, canned fruits, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes.
