How do I get rid of bad breath?
Halitosis, also known as bad breath, can affect your daily social life, amongst others, when it comes to the foul smell of your breath. Whilst there are a few short-term methods to temporarily maintain against the bad breath, they don’t always get to the root issue that is creating the problem.
How to know if you have bad breath?
There are varying reasons as to why someone can have bad breath. However, it can sometimes be hard to tell on your own. It is recommended to reach out to a close friend or family member to smell your breath to help determine the type of smell it gives off and how strong it is. For better assessment, its beneficial to go to a dental specialist to have a smell of your breath so they can better determine the root cause of the odor, since it is their profession to do so.
What can cause this foul odor?
- Smoking Tobacco – Commonly known to cause foul odors, teeth staining, and further progression into gum disease and other serious issues.
- Poor Oral Hygiene – Every day, a thin layer of bacteria forms on the surface of the teeth known as plaque. It is recommended that proper oral hygiene be followed at least twice a day to avoid the overbuildup of plaque on the teeth or in the gums. Brushing the teeth, scraping the tongue, flossing, and following with a mouth rinse can all help aid in removing any harmful and smelly bacteria that can cause foul odors.
- Dry mouth – This can occur after smoking or eating any irritant foods that can affect the saliva glands. If the glands are not functioning properly, then it allows for the buildup of bacteria in the mouth. Over time, with excessive bouts of dry mouth, it can lead to signs of gum disease where plaque is beginning to form in the gums, putting the root of the tooth at risk.
- Oral Infections and other Diseases – Mouth sores, gum disease, tooth decay, tooth removal, or wounds from oral surgery can also be the reason for bad odors. Other illnesses that can cause bad breath are Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which can be a cause, as well as some forms of cancer, due to the way the body breaks down food into energy for the body. Tonsillitis is the production of small stones in your tonsils, which also causes bad breath.
- Medicine – Depending on how your body chooses to break down any medications you take, the chemicals released into your body can also be causes of the odor.
Do not wait to address bad breath until it is too late. If you or someone you know suffers from bad breath even after a proper oral hygiene routine and cleaning, a dental specialist should be contacted as soon as possible. Doing this can help prevent or make aware of any underlying health issues that have side effects of having bad breath.
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