Bad breath, otherwise known in the medical field as halitosis, can come up as a result of poor dental health habits and might be an indication of other health issues. It can additionally get worse due to the consumption of different types of food and some other unhealthy lifestyle habits. You can take certain steps to help in halitosis prevention and treatment, be it at home or with the help of the dentist or doctor.
Causes
The majority of bad breath commences in the mouth, and there might be many possible reasons behind it. Such include:
Food.
The breakup of food particles in and all around the teeth can raise bacteria and lead to a foul odor. The consumption of certain foods, such as garlic, spices, and onions, can also lead to bad breath. Once these foods are digested, they enter the bloodstream, are taken to the lungs, and affect the breath.
Tobacco Products.
Tobacco can cause its own unpleasant mouth odor. Oral tobacco users and smokers are much more likely to have gum disease, which is yet another source of bad breath.
Poor Dental Hygiene.
If you aren’t one of those people who brush and floss their teeth daily, food debris will remain in the mouth, leading to bad breath. Furthermore, a colorless, sticky film of bacteria, namely the plaque, will form on the teeth. If it isn’t brushed away, plaque can cause irritation of the gums and gradually form plaque-filled pockets in between the teeth and gums, known as periodontitis. Odor-producing bacteria can also be trapped by your tongue. Moreover, dentures that are not cleaned up regularly or are unfit can shelter odor-producing bacteria and preserve food debris.
Dry Mouth.
Saliva can aid in cleansing the mouth, removing particles that lead to bad odors. A condition known in the medical field as dry mouth or xerostomia can play a huge role in bad breath seeing as the production of saliva decreases. Typically, dry mouth happens during the night, leading this way to morning breath, and it becomes even worse when sleeping with the mouth open. An issue with your salivary glands and some other diseases can be the source of chronic dry mouth.
Medications.
Certain drugs (medications) can indirectly generate bad breath by adding to a dry mouth. Some others can be broken down in the body in order to release chemicals that can be carried on the breath.
Infections in your mouth.
Bad breath can also be caused by wounds following oral surgery, including tooth removal, or it can come as a cause of tooth decay, mouth sores, or gum disease.
Other Mouth, Nose And Throat Conditions.
Small stones forming in the tonsils covered with bacteria that generate odor can also be the cause of bad breath. Furthermore, inflammation or infections (be it chronic or acute) in the throat, sinuses, or nose, which can lead to postnasal drip, can also be the cause of bad breath.
Other Causes.
Illnesses, for instance, some cancers, and other medical conditions like metabolic disorders, can lead to a distinctive breath odor that comes from the chemicals produced. Chronic reflux stemming from stomach acids such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD can also be related to bad breath. On the other hand, bad breath in young children can come as a result of a foreign body, like a food particle, lodged in a nostril.
How Does Food Affect Breath?
Simply put, all the food eaten starts breaking down in the mouth. Additionally, foods are absorbed into the bloodstream and move to the lungs, impacting the air exhaled. If you consume foods that have strong odors like onions or garlic, flossing, and brushing, even mouthwash, are unable to cover up the odor temporarily. The odor does not fully disappear until the foods have gone through the body. Some other usual foods that lead to bad breath include:
- Cheese
- Pastrami
- Certain spices
- Orange juice or soda
- Alcohol
Similarly, those people who do not consume enough food can have bad breath. When the body breaks down fat, the whole process generates chemicals that can add a funky smell to your breath. If your teeth aren’t brushed or flossed daily, food debris can remain in the mouth, contributing to bacterial growth in between the teeth, on the tongue, and around the gums. This can lead to bad breath. Gingivitis or the inflammation of the gums from poor dental hygiene can also lead to bad breath.
Moreover, odor-producing bacteria and food debris can lead to bad breath if the dentures are not thoroughly cleaned.
Chewing tobacco-based products or even smoking can lead to bad breath, stained teeth, a reduced capability to taste foods and gum irritation.
What Health Problems Are Associated With Bad Breath?
A continuous bad taste in the mouth or bad breath might be an indicator of gum disease (periodontal disease). Gum disease comes as a reason for plaque buildup on teeth. Bacteria lead to toxins forming, which can in turn cause gum irritation. If the gum disease remains untreated, it can harm the jawbone and gums.
Additional dental causes of bad breath include such as poor-fitting dental appliances, or cavities and yeast infections of the mouth.
Another medical condition known to cause bad breath is xerostomia or dry mouth. Saliva is needed to moisten the mouth. Saliva is also needed to neutralize the acids produced by plaque and wash away any dead cell buildup on the gums, cheeks, or tongue. If this cell buildup removal isn’t possible, they will decompose and lead to bad breath. Dry mouth might be a side effect of a variety of drugs, salivary gland issues, or persistent breathing via the mouth. As a matter of fact, the morning breath is much worse for those people who sleep with their mouths open.
- Seasonal allergies
- Respiratory tract infections including pneumonia or bronchitis
- Long-term (known also as chronic) sinus infections
- Postnasal drip
- Diabetes
- Chronic acid reflux
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Chronic lung infection
- Liver or kidney issues
What Can I Do to Prevent Bad Breath?
There exist several simple and swift approaches to banishing bad breath. Keep in mind that the odor from what you consume can stick around till the food works its way fully out of the system, meaning up to three days later.
Bad breath can only be prevented or reduced if you:
Brush And Floss More Often.
Exercise good oral hygiene. To remove food particles and plaque from the teeth try brushing them twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste or brushing them every time after eating. To brush after lunch it is recommended to keep a toothbrush at work or school. Following an illness, dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every two to three months. Trapped food debris adds to the issue. Utilize an interdental cleaner and floss to remove food debris and plaque in between the teeth at least once a day.
Rinse Your Mouth Out.
A mouthwash contributes to additional protection by eliminating bacteria. You can further help the breath if you swish the mouth using playing water after eating. Loosening up and freeing those trapped bits of food particles that get stuck in the teeth might help.
Scrape Your Tongue.
Another host for smelly bacteria can be the coating that typically forms on the tongue. Tongue scrapers are tailored especially to apply pressure across the surface of the tongue regions and clear any buildup.
Avoid Foods That Sour Your Breath.
Garlic and onions are the main culprits. Even brushing your teeth after consuming them does not help.
Skip After-Dinner Mints And Chew Gum Instead.
It is a well-known fact that the bacteria in the mouth are sugar lovers. They use the sugar to make it acidic. This in turn will wear down the teeth and lead to bad breath. Chewing sugarless gum or even sucking on sugarless candy can also be a stimulator for the production of saliva, which aids in washing away any food debris and bacteria. Mints and gums that contain xylitol are the best solution.
Keep Your Gums Healthy.
Antiseptic mouthwash can assist in killing the bacteria that lead to bad breath and plaque that can cause gingivitis, an early form of gum disease.
Moisten Your Mouth.
You can experience bad breath and tooth decay if you do not produce enough saliva. If you find your mouth dry, make sure to drink tons of water throughout the day. In addition, you can try a humidifier at night in order to moisten the air in the house.
Keep Your Dental Devices Clean.
Your dental devices such as dentures need to be removed at night and be cleaned in depth prior to being placed in the mouth the following morning. Clean retainers and braces as instructed by the dentist.
See Your Dentist Regularly – At Least Twice A Year.
Dentists will do an oral assessment and professional teeth cleaning and they will be capable of finding and treating periodontal disease, dry mouth, or any other issue that might be the leading cause of bad breath.
Stop Smoking And Chewing Tobacco-Based Products.
To kick the habit, ask for help from your dentist.
Eat More Fruits And Vegetables And Less Meat.
Celery, carrots, apples, and any other hard fruit or vegetable aid in clearing odor-causing food particles and plaque from the mouth.
Keep A Log Of The Foods You Eat.
If you believe that foods might cause bad breath, bring the log to the dentist for a review. Parallelly, write down the medications you have been taking. Some of these medications might play a huge role in creating mouth odors.
Who Treats Bad Breath?
In the majority of cases, the dentist can treat the reason behind bad breath. If the dentist establishes that your mouth is healthy and the foul odor has not originated from it, you might be referred to the family doctor or to a specialist to establish the bad breath source and the treatment plan. You can go over a list of medications you are taking, with them, to see if any of them could be adding further to the issue. Collaborate with them in order to maintain allergies, diabetes, or any other condition under control. If the cause of the bad breath is gum disease, for instance, the dentist can either treat the disease himself or refer you to a periodontist, meaning, a dentist specialized in treating gum conditions.
How Is Halitosis Diagnosed?
Dentists frequently diagnose halitosis. The diagnosis is thoroughly based on the person’s anamnesis and the mouth odor throughout the dental assessment. The complete mouth is checked in order to see if there is any cause to be found, including an infection. If the dentist is unable to find the cause, she or he will refer you to a proper specialist.
What Is The Treatment For Halitosis?
Treatment is dependent on the cause of the condition, mainly, such as:
Poor Oral Health Care
If the reason for bad breath is improper oral healthcare, in the majority of cases the dentist will treat the cause of the issue.
Gum Disease
If the cause of the bad breath is an underlying one like gum disease, to get rid of the odor, the condition needs to be treated by the dentist. Or in other cases, you might be referred to an oral specialist- in the majority of the cases, a periodontist. A periodontal cleaning oftentimes assists in the tartar and bacteria removal, or even plaque that has been building up and is the cause of inflammation at the gumline.
Extensive Plaque Buildup
Your periodontist or dentist might advise an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Additionally, you might be told to brush the tongue carefully every time you brush your teeth to aid in odor-causing bacteria removal.
Health Condition
The proper diagnosis and treatment of an existing health condition might eliminate bad breath.
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