How to Combat Bad Breath: Causes and Effective Treatments

05 Apr How to Combat Bad Breath: Causes and Effective Treatments

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be a major concern and pretty annoying when conversing with friends, colleagues or when engaging in a romantic affair.

It can happen occasionally, or it can be a perennial condition.

Fortunately, there is hope if you’re a victim of halitosis, as it can be easily averted with various simple steps.

Usually, bad breath stems from odour-producing bacteria that thrive in the mouth.

Failure to brush and floss routinely causes the bacteria to build-up on the bits of food particles stuck in your mouth and between your teeth.

These bacteria produce sulfur compounds that make your smell unpleasant.

Below are the five leading causes :

• Poor oral hygiene

This happens when you fail to stick to a strict routine of brushing and flossing teeth, resulting in bad breath and tooth decay.

• Dry Mouth

This condition arises when your body fails to produce adequate saliva that aids in moistening and cleansing the mouth.

• Health Issues

Health issues, such as kidney disease, diabetes, stomach disease, and acid reflux, can cause bad breath.

• Mouth Infections

Infections, such as gum disease, cavities, and the affected teeth can cause a foul smell to some extent.

• Tobacco Products

Tobacco consumption in the form of smoking or chewing usually leaves chemicals that get stuck in the mouth.

During the digestion process, the bacteria present on the surface of the tongue transform amino acids into sulfur compounds. This can trigger bad breath.

That was one of the reasons for example in case of one of our patient, Mahmood from UK, who stopped smoking . He got a deep cleanig treatment and a new smile. You can read here he’s case if you are interested : E-Cigarettes and Dental Health

After intake of protein-rich foods, there is a high likelihood of bad breath.

Dead cells, inadequate salivation, and scrapings in the oral cavity give rise to halitosis encourage the flourishing of bacteria.

How to Diagnose Bad Breath ?

In many instances, the patient may be used to his foul smell, or they don’t even realize lousy breath.

The diagnosis of perennial halitosis can be performed using a halimeter.

The halimeter determines the concentration of sulfide molecules in breathed out air and saliva.

The measurement doesn’t last beyond a minute and must be retaken three times.

How is Bad Breath Treated ?

The treatment of halitosis varies significantly based on the cause.

Regular brushing and flossing of teeth are among the most common ways of keeping bad breath at bay.

Keep in mind to brush the tongue as well.

Visit the dentist periodically and undergo a mouth cancer screening test whenever possible.

Keep off inhaling or chewing tobacco products.

Take plenty of water and chew sugarless gum or hard candy free of sugars to keep the mouth moist and encourage the secretion of saliva.

Mouthwash can help neutralize foul breath odours temporarily but may not cure the root cause.