Halitosis – Bad Breath

By | March 11, 2014

Bad breath in medical terminology is called as halitosis. It affects people at some point of time in their lives. Some types of bad breath like morning mouth are normal and they usually are not health concerns.

Bad breath is often cause of poor dental hygiene. It may worsen with certain lifestyle habits and the type of food we eat daily. In this article, we will discuss about the causes of bad breath and how to prevent it.

Causes of bad breath

  • Poor oral hygiene: Improper brushing and flossing can leave tiny food particles in the mouth for decaying inside the mouth.
  • Gum disease: Early stage of gum disease is called as gingivitis and the advanced stage is called as periodontitis. These are the main factors resulting in bad breath.
  • Medical conditions: Sinus infection, throat infection or lung infections can also cause bad breath.
  • Chronic disease: Diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease, reflux disease and others can be the cause for bad breath.
  • Food and drinks: Eating strong flavored foods like onions, garlic and spices can cause your mouth to smell. Moreover, strong smelling drinks like coffee, tea and alcohol can also be the cause for the same.
  • Dieting: Dieting, fasting and food that is low in carbohydrates can be the cause for bad breath. Dieting and fasting causes your body to cut down fat, which causes chemicals called as ketones that smells from your breath.
  • Medication: Certain medicines can cause bad breath such as chemotherapy, etc.
  • Dry mouth: This is the condition where your mouth becomes too dry which is often caused by salivary gland problem or any health problem. Dry mouth also creates foul smell in your mouth.
  • Smoking: Smoking actually does not cause bad breath, but smokers often suffer from gum disease and other dental problems that can cause bad breath.

Prevention
Bad breath can be easily cured by:

  • Brushing regularly: If you brush regularly, you are less likely to suffer from bad breath. Dentist advise their patients to;
    • brush their teeth twice a day or after every meal.
    • Use a toothpaste that contains appropriate amount of fluoride.
    • Use small – medium size toothbrush that can easily reach and clean the corners of the teeth.
    • Use a soft bristled toothbrush
  • Flossing: Floss at least once a day. Flossing enables to clean the areas where your toothbrush can’t reach easily.
  • Clean your tongue using a tongue scraper. Tongue is the breeding ground for bacteria and is the main cause for bad breath.
  • Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist.
  • Visit the dentist every six months.