What You Need to Know about Bad Breath

Bad breath or halitosis, most of the time starts from the mouth. This is caused by bacteria that break down food particles and produce by-products called VSCs (volatile sulphur compounds). This results to breathing a distinctive odour similar to a rotten egg or bad breath.

Factors that cause of bad breath (halitosis):

Poor dental hygiene is the major cause of bad breath. It results to tooth decay, gum problems such as gingivitis, and plaque. This also causes accumulation of bacteria particularly in between teeth and posterior tongue.

Certain types of food and drinks also affect the kind of breath we breathe. Foods such as cabbage, onion, and garlic are known to contain oil that runs to the bloodstream and makes us exhale bad odour.  Coffee and soda are known to cause bad breath as well. All tobacco products can cause bad breath aside from other health danger they can cause.

Dryness of the mouth is another reason why people have bad breath. It is more often the reason to children since they have habits of sucking objects including blanket that quickly dries the mouth. For adult, dried mouth is often caused by poor saliva production and using mouthwash that contains too much alcohol.

Nasal, throat, and mouth infection cause halitosis as well. These include canker sores, upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, mononucleosis, tonsillitis, strep throat, nasal discharge, and sinusitis. Nasal infection or colds can force someone to breathe through his mouth which quickly dries the mouth and cause bacteria to breed.

Internal organ failures can manifest themselves through bad breath. Thus halitosis can be a sign of serious health problem.

How bad breath is treated?

Since most of the time bad breath or halitosis starts from the mouth, it is treated through the mouth. Seeking for dentist’s help is the best way to do it. The dentist can check if there are something wrong with the dentures and make the necessary treatment for it. A visit to the dentist can also shed idea as to what types of remedies are suited to a particular person with bad breath.

Self-help bad breath treatment

Maintaining a good oral hygiene can prevent as well as treat bad breath. This includes tooth brushing for at least twice a day, using dental floss or other type of inter-dental brush at least once a day, and using oral antiseptic that do not cause dryness to the mouth. Cleaning the tongue with a tongue scraper is an effective way to remove the odour-causing bacteria off the mouth.

Drinking plenty of fluids can keep mouth moist which reduces the risk of bad breath. Eating regularly stimulates the mouth to produce saliva which moistens the mouth. Chewing sugarless gums can stimulate the production of saliva as well.

Since meat, fish and dairy products can cause bad breath, a good brushing after meal is important to remove food particles from your mouth.

Fibrous fruits and vegetables such as parsley, cucumber, apple, and carrots can help clean the teeth naturally.

Quit smoking and lessen the consumption of coffee and soda.

Clean orthodontic appliances, partial plates, and removable bridges can trap food particles that cause bad breath. Clean them once a day or as instructed by the dentist.

With the right information, bad breath or halitosis can easily be prevented.