No one likes bad breath. It can be masked by popping a mint in your mouth, chewing flavored gum, or swishing some mouthwash. Though these solutions provide temporary help, they cannot solve problems if bad breath is chronic.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Bad breath is also known by its medical name as halitosis. There are several causes of bad breath such as:
- Dirty Mouth: Food particles can rot and smell over time. They also feed the bacteria that produces compounds which are the smells we associate with bad breath.
- Types of Food: Strong smelling foods like onions, garlic, and spices enter the bloodstream after digestion. They are then carried to the lungs, where they continue to produce odors.
- Dry Mouth: When there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth, it cannot wash away the food debris that feeds odor producing bacteria.
- Periodontal Disease: When the gums become infected, pockets appear that can hold the bacteria causing halitosis.
- Medical Conditions: Bad breath can be related to the symptoms of medical conditions such as sinus infection, kindney disease, diabetes, bronchitis, etc.
How To Treat Bad Breath?
If halitosis is a concern, see your dentist. They will help diagnose the cause of your bad breath and suggest the best treatment option such as:
- Brushing and flossing daily.
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Changing your diet.
- Brushing your tongue.
- Quitting use of tobacco.
- Undergoing periodontal treatment.
- Seeing your doctor if they think you may have a medical condition causing bad breath.
