5 Reasons Why You Have Bad Breath

Introduction

Formally called halitosis, having bad breath can be a severe source of embarrassment. It can impact our self-esteem and the way we deal with our everyday lives. Bad breath can occur due to several reasons, including tobacco use, eating certain types of food, chronic dry mouth, etc. It generally manifests itself as an unpleasant odour or taste in the mouth or with a white coating on the tongue. While many people may believe that bad breath only occurs due to poor oral hygiene, this is not the case. The state of our oral health is indicative of our overall health. Bad breath often means that there is an underlying problem we may not have noticed yet. Thus, we must stay alert to our body’s changes.

What causes bad breath?

Presence of diseases

As mentioned earlier, bad breath often indicates the presence of serious diseases. In such cases, the bad breath occurs by the build-up and release of certain gases, such as methylamine. Diseases of the kidney, liver, and even forms of throat cancer can result in bad breath. Sometimes, it can also indicate the presence of heart diseases. In other cases, there could also be an infection present in the mouth cavity or the tonsils that causes the unpleasant odour. Thus, if you suspect that there is another reason for your bad breath, visit a doctor.

2. Oral hygiene

Practising good oral health is one of the best ways for dispelling lousy breath. The buildup of bacteria in the mouth is the primary reason for odour. These bacteria feed on remnant food particles and form a white coating over the teeth and tongue. Here, brushing twice a day and flossing regularly can help prevent such buildup. While brushing your teeth is a helpful practice, it is also crucial that you do not over-brush. It can lead to the erosion of enamel and tooth sensitivity. Your teeth may also become more prone to disease and infection. Apart from this, take care of the amount of mouthwash you use. While it does prevent bacteria, mouth wash also kills the good bacteria in the mouth. Thus, use it with caution.

Also Read: What To Do If You Have Bad Breath

3. Eat the right foods

Numerous foods can cause bad breath. Concerning this, one of the most common food items is coffee. It is because coffee can cause dry mouth, which promotes the growth of harmful bacteria. Dry mouth substantially prevents saliva from coating all the areas of your mouth and hence allows the growth of bacteria. As coffee is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more often, it can also cause dehydration, which is the primary reason for dry mouth. Other times, eating a lot of onion and garlic can be a temporary source of bad breath due to their sulphur content. Apart from this, if you eat tons of junk food, chances are you experience lousy breath more commonly than others. It is because the acidic nature of these foods causes the decay of the tooth. Thus, fixing your eating habits and eating foods like yoghurt can be one of the primary ways you fix your bad breath.

4. Visit the dentist

If you wish for healthy teeth throughout your life, scheduling regular appointments with your dentist is a must. Regular dental checkups and cleaning of the teeth can help prevent a host of dental problems. Furthermore, dentists continuously improve its treatment techniques and equipment for solving dental issues. They can close up cavities or fix broken teeth with the help of latest products, such as the 316L stainless steel crown. In doing so, they reduce the number of places where bacteria can grow and hence contribute to bad breath. Apart from this, the dentist may also provide you with helpful oral tips for your teeth. They are also the first people who can identify whether there is a deeper cause for your bad breath. In this way, visiting the dentist can help improve your oral health a great deal.

5. Give up smoking

Excessive drinking and the smoking of tobacco can have several consequences on your health. Like caffeine, alcohol’s properties are also known for causing dry mouth as it promotes dehydration. Concerning smoking, apart from tobacco staining teeth, nicotine can also affect gums and teeth and may cause diseases. Smoking can also cause stomach ulcers which are a great source of discomfort. Though ulcers may manifest differently, many times they can cause bloating and the gas can cause bad breath. Smoking also puts you at risk of increased weight gain and a recent study actually links bad breath to weight gain. Thus, such people may face more social stigma and hence feel more isolated.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several factors that can cause bad breath. By placing a focus on improving your oral hygiene, eating habits, etc. you can immensely improve your breath. Furthermore, regular visits to the dentist can greatly benefit you. The dentist will become more familiar with your medical history and hence can easily tell when something is wrong. Furthermore, they may also give you some helpful tips and alternatives for giving up alcohol and smoking. Thus, we hope that this article helps inform you about the various causes of bad breath and how you can overcome this.

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