Halitosis or commonly known as bad breath may be one of the most embarrassing trait a person can have. People with bad breath are usually isolated because other people would not want to speak with them. In addition, bad breath also reduces one’s self-confidence for that matter. People usually believe that bad breath is a result of poor dental hygiene, but the truth is, other more serious condition may cause its occurrence. In line with these, simple dental hygiene may not be effective in addressing bad breath. To help us understand halitosis and how to prevent it, here the most common reasons for bad breath:
Dental carries
Probably the most common cause of bad breath is the presence of dental caries, plaques or tartar. The presence of dental problems usually results in build-up of bacteria in the mouth that cause production of unpleasant odor in the oral cavity.
Brushing the teeth after meals is good, but make sure that you also visit the dentist regularly to manage other dental problems that may cause bad breath.
Dry mouth
The presence of dry mouth is also a common cause for bad breath. Dry mouth allows bacteria to proliferate because the absence of saliva makes the oral cavity a good place to harbor microorganisms.
To address dry mouth, chew sugarless gum or candies to stimulate production of saliva. You can also increase fluid intake to maintain hydration of the mouth.
Gum disease
The presence of gingivitis or abscess formation in the gums also contributes to bad breath. Inflammation and infection in the gums alters the pH in the mouth that contributes to build-up or proliferation of bacteria.
In addition, pus formation in the gums is already a direct cause of bad breath. Always make sure to increase intake of vitamin C to prevent gum infections. Also, use soft bristle toothbrush to prevent injury to the gums.
Gastrointestinal conditions
The presence of acid reflux from the stomach to the esophagus is a common reason for halitosis. Peptic ulcer disease and small intestinal bacterial growth can also cause such because the unpleasant odor from the GIT can go up in the oral cavity and cause bad breath.
Gastrointestinal conditions may be prevented by consuming probiotics that reduce the amount of bad bacteria in the gut as well as avoiding skipping meals because this may contribute to acid reflux and ulcer formation.
Smoking
Smoking is another reason from ad breath. When nicotine, tar and other chemicals found in cigarettes attach to the oral cavity, it causes bad breath or unusual odor in the mouth. In addition, the smoke also affects the lungs that may lead to pulmonary or lung problems that may also cause unusual odor in your breath.
If you are a smoker, try to quit smoking because long-term cigarette smoking usually leads to bad breath that cannot be managed by simply brushing.
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol drinking is also another common cause of bad breath. Alcohol tends to be smelled even after hours of drinking. If you drink, chew peppermint gum or rinse your mouth to reduce the odor.
Liver and kidney problems
Although the liver and the kidneys are not directly connected to the oral cavity, the presence of liver and kidney problems may potentially lead to bad breath. The kidneys and the liver are the ones responsible in detoxifying and filtering the blood to make it clean for the circulation. In the presence of conditions affecting the organs, the level of ammonia or other byproducts may increase, which are usually apparent in the breath of patients. A herbal Milk Thistle liver detoxifying therapy is suggested.
In order to prevent halitosis, all these condition should be prevented and properly managed. Visiting the dentist regularly is the simplest way to prevent bad breath.