Bad breath, also known as ‘halitosis‘, can be a direct result of dental health problems and may be associated with dietary habits. It is primarily caused by the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth and last for long periods of time. Bad breadth can cause a variety of other health issues.
Main causes of bad breath and way to prevent such foul smell!
Poor oral hygiene
Knowing what constitutes a reasonable oral hygiene routine and trying to stick to a routine of flossing, brushing, and rinsing can go a long way in making your bad breath go away.
So in order to do away with that foul smell — which will drive friend and foe away — try removing food particles from between your teeth and on your tongue, brushing various angles of your teeth and tongue and then swirling some septic mouthwash around in your mouth for almost one minute. Doing such a routine guarantees a fresh, pleasant smell by killing 99% of the bacteria in your mouth.
Those who do not brush and floss on a regular basis, preferably two or three times a day, end up with a colorless, sticky layer of bacteria (known as plaque) on their teeth which, in turn, can sensitize and irritate the gums and accumulate in between your teeth and gums.
Your tongue can also turn into a hotbed of bacteria, which will then produce an unpleasant smell. Dentures, if not cleaned and maintained properly, can be a hiding place for millions of foul odor-producing bacteria.
Food and drinks
What you eat or drink can cause lasting bad breath in the mouth as well. Onions, garlic, and spices, after being consumed and digested, enter bloodstream and when carried to the lungs cause that unpleasant smell we try to get away from!
What might come as a surprise is that a large amount of sugar, when consumed, feeds the already existing bacteria in your mouth which results in the sour smell emanating from your mouth.
Coffee and alcohol can also be main sources of bad breath. These liquids, work to increase the saliva in your mouth which can multiply the number of bacteria in the mouth.
Dry mouth
Saliva is there for a reason! It helps cleanse the mouth and remove food particles which are generally the cause of bad breath. As obvious as it is, a deficiency in the amount of saliva leads to generation of bad breath.
Dry mouth is most commonly the result of sleeping with your mouth open and in certain cases, it can be the result of a problem in your salivary glands as well as a number of diseases.
Certain medical conditions in the mouth and nose
Infection or acute inflammation in your sinuses, nose, or throat can be the cause of your mysterious bad breath. These can usually be surmounted by simple surgeries and perhaps removing tonsil(s).
How to treat or prevent bad breath?
In order to get rid of your bad breath, you can try some ways and see what works for you. Here are some bad breath prevention tips that tend to be effective for most people:
Use toothbrushes, dental floss and mouthwash regularly
In case the breath is the direct cause of accumulation of bacteria in the mouth, you might want to try a mouthwash after brushing and flossing your teeth, this will kill the majority of bacteria and leave a pleasant smell in your mouth for the rest of the day or night.
Brushing twice or even three times a day, followed or preceded by a thorough flossing of your teeth will definitely freshen your breath, if applied consistently. Do not forget to brush your tongue too!
Also, it might sound like such a simple thing, but most people ignore it: toothbrushes should be replaced after three to four months of being used. An old toothbrush turns into a hotbed of bacteria.
Treat dental/gum disease
If you are suffering from a gum disease, you may want to consult a gum specialist known as a periodontist. Such a disease causes the gums to slide back and away from your teeth, thus leaving empty spaces which can be filled with bacteria.
Certain other dental problems can also give away bad smell. So make sure to set an appointment with your dentist and get your gums and teeth checked soon! If you need dental work, do the arrangement as soon as possible. Even a simple cleaning can be extremely effective in preventing that bad breath your friends always complain about!
Avoid dry mouth
As surprising as it might sound, there are actually ways to tackle this problem. Quitting smoking would be step one! Tobacco, if smoked regularly, dries your mouth considerably, so does drinking coffee or alcohol!
Stimulating saliva can be a good idea and can be achieved by simple means like sucking on a candy or chewing gum! For problems during sleep, i.e. sleeping with your mouth open, you had better consult your ENT specialist. Chronic cases of dry mouth, however, can be tackled by using certain medications used to facilitate the flow of saliva.
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