Bad Breath Causes and How to Get Rid of Bad Breath
January 4th, 2010
Bad breath, medically termed as Halitosis is a condition that produces unpleasant feeling due to foul smell produced from the mouth. It occurs when people don’t take proper care of their oral cavity, and maintain poor oral hygiene. Its also affected and influenced by the foods that you eat, and your diet.
Biologically speaking, the bad odor is a result of Volatile sulfur compounds released, which have a typical rotten-egg smell. Its seen both in vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Here are the major causes of bad breath:
Bad Breath Cause: Poor oral hygiene
Irregular and improper brushing habits, not following a good oral rinsing habit to wash off the remaining food debris after a meal, and not getting professional cleaning done by a dental practitioner at least once in a year, can lead to food accumulation and bad breath.
Bad Breath Cause: Gum disease and periodontal pocket
When the food and bacteria combine and harden, calculus formation is seen, which extends down to the root surface and creates a gap between the tooth and the gums. This is what we refer to gum disease and periodontal pocket. This pocket becomes a reservoir of food debris and later a source for bad breath.
Bad Breath Cause: Foods
Majority of bad breath complaining patients, have an irregular diet with more consumption of food that can lead to it.
The foods that can cause bad breath are:
- Garlic and onion - When their flavor gets mixed with the saliva, pungent odor is released, and this lasts for long time until you properly rinse your mouth.
- Food rich in starch, proteins and carbohydrates - stuff like sugary foods, that get broken by the enzymes released by bacteria. Also meat, fish food are rich in proteins, so can lead to bad breath.
- Chewing gum and mint that contain sugar - These gums with sugar usually are a good source in producing the Volatile sulfur compounds.
- Coffee, alcohol - Both the fluids contain alkaloids and substances that can produce bad breath.
- Tobacco chewing and smoking
- Tobacco and its products in the form of chewable leaves, cigarettes etc. are a major source of mad breath.
Bad Breath as a sign of medical disorder
Bad breath can often be a sign for any medical condition the person is suffering from. Most commonly, respiratory tracy infection like infected throat, lung infections, sinus tract infections, and other systemic illnesses like diabetes, reflux oesophagitis, chronic bronchitis, liver or kidney disorders. If your dentist marks your oral hygiene as good, then you should visit a general health practitioner to determine the actual cause of bad breath.
Dry mouth - xerostomia as a bad breath cause
Saliva is always necessary to keep the mouth moistened and clean the mouth, neutralize any acids produced by the bacteria by reacting with the carbohydrates. Xerostomia is a condition, where saliva is in very less quantity and thicker in consistency. Here the normal function of saliva is not seen, and so the dead cells and acids produce bad breath.
How to get rid of bad breath
To fight bad breath, there are a few ways as below:
1. Maintain proper oral hygiene - Use fluoride toothpaste, and brush your teeth twice daily, clean your tongue too. After every meal you have to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water, and if you are a denture wearer, clean it every night when you are not using it. If time permits, try to maintain a habit of using floss or interdental cleaners which help in cleaning areas between the teeth where toothbrush cannot clean.
2. Get teeth cleaned professionally - Visit your dentist regularly, at least once every 6 months. They know better on how to clean and remove the food remains, and the bad breath inducing factors. Any other reason for bad breath is also determined by them.
3. Modify your diet - Sometimes changes in the diet timings and the food you eat, can change a lot of things, including curing a bad breath. Maintain a mixed diet of all foods, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats along with fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget to drink lot of water, that can help increase salivation and cleansing of the mouth.
4. Natural ways - Chew herbs like coriander, spearmint, eucalyptus, and cardamom which all help to cure bad breath in an effective and natural way. If you are a tea addict, you can add any of these to tea and have it easily work for your mouth.
5. Quit habits - Try to quit habits like smoking, chewing tobacco or nuts. Alcohol consumption can also lead to bad breath, try to control the habits, and seek advice from your dentist on quitting the addiction.
6. Vitamin C foods - Foods like berries, melons and any citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, and help in locking the growth of bacteria, thus gum disease and periodontal pocket formation are prevented, helping in bad breath control.
7. Tongue cleaner - Use a tongue cleaner, to always keep the surface of the tongue clean and free from food deposits, and keeping your breath fresh.
8. Sugarless Gums - A perfect example is Xylitol which is sweet, and has sugar substituted compounds, and it helps in increasing salivation in the mouth. Also, cinnamon containing gums and products can be used to both increase salivation, and to reduce bad odor directly.
9. Mouth rinse and washes - There are fluoride mouth washes available, which can help you in preventing bacterial growth, as bacteria are not allowed to adhere to tooth surfaces, and these washes are flavored with mint etc. so freshens up the breath.
If you still have any sign of bad breath after practicing the above steps, ask your dentist for medical advice, as it can be due to any medical condition.
You might also like these related dental health articles
- Best Bad Breath Mouthwash, Will It Cure Halitosis?
- Chronic Halitosis Causes
- If Bad Breath Remains After Good Oral Hygiene
- Causes of Bad Breath and Halitosis Cure
- Bacteria That Contribute To Bad Breath
Categories: Oral Hygiene, Teeth
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