Are You Suffering From Bad Breath ?
Halitosis or bad breath affects everyone from time to time - especially after eating garlic, onions or other strong foods. But bad breath that doesn’t go away (chronic halitosis) could mean you have an oral health issue or a condition that’s affecting another part of your body. Bad breath affects 1 out of 4 people around the globe and can be an indication of an underlying health issue, therefore it’s important to know when it’s just an annoyance and when you need to see a medical or dental professional.
What Are The Symptoms Of Bad Breath?
The main halitosis symptom is foul-smelling breath that doesn’t go away. The odour may be strong enough for other people to notice.
What Causes Bad Breath?
• Dry Mouth: Saliva helps to wash your mouth, so if your body isn’t making enough saliva, it can lead to halitosis. Smoking and taking certain medications can increase your chances of having a dry mouth.
• Poor oral health care: Without correct and regular brushing and flossing, and routine dental exams, food stays in the mouth. This is a breeding ground for bacteria. Food that collects on the teeth, gums, and tongue may rot. This causes an unpleasant odour and taste in the mouth.
• Incorrect cleaning of dentures: Dentures that are not cleaned correctly may be collecting bacteria, fungi, and remaining food particles. All of these cause bad breath.
• Tobacco products: Smoking causes unpleasant mouth odour. Tobacco users also are more likely to have gum disease, which is another source of bad breath.
• Gum disease: Gingivitis is an inflammation of your gums that can cause redness, swelling and bleeding. It’s caused by plaque, a sticky film that builds up on your teeth and can be removed by brushing and flossing. Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which damages gum tissue and can lead to tooth and bone loss around your teeth.
• Infections in your Nose, Throat or Lungs: People with Pneumonia, for example, cough up liquid that smells bad.
• Tonsil stones: When food gets stuck in your tonsils (located in the back of your throat), it sometimes hardens into calcium deposits called tonsil stones or tonsilloliths.
• Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions like Diabetes, liver or kidney disease, Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD),Cancers, etc can also cause bad breath.
• Crash diets: Fasting and low-carbohydrate eating programs can produce halitosis. This is due to the breakdown of fats producing chemicals called ketones. These ketones have a strong aroma which can lead to bad breath.
How To Prevent Bad Breath ?
There are certain lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help to reduce or prevent bad breath:
• Brush your teeth after you eat. Keep a toothbrush at work to use after eating. Brush using a fluoride-containing toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after meals. Toothpaste with antibacterial properties has been shown to reduce bad breath.
• Floss at least once a day. Proper flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth, helping to control bad breath.
• Brush your tongue. Your tongue collects bacteria, so carefully brushing it may reduce bad odour. A tongue scraper may help people who have a coated tongue from a major overgrowth of bacteria, such as from smoking or dry mouth or use a toothbrush that has a built-in tongue cleaner.
• Clean bridges, dentures, retainers and mouth guards. If you wear a bridge or a denture, clean it thoroughly at least once a day or as directed by your dentist. If you have a dental retainer or mouth guard, clean it each time before you put it in your mouth. Your dentist can recommend the best cleaning product.
• Keep your mouth moist. Stay away from tobacco and drink plenty of water. Don't take in too much caffeine, spicy food or alcohol. All these can dry out your mouth. Chew gum or suck on candy, preferably sugarless, to make more saliva. For constant dry mouth, your healthcare professional may prescribe an artificial saliva preparation or a medicine that you take by mouth that raises the flow of saliva.
• Change your diet. Stay away from foods such as onions and garlic that can cause bad breath. Eating a lot of sugary foods also is linked with bad breath.
• Replace your toothbrush. Change your toothbrush when it becomes frayed, about every 3 to 4 months or sooner as needed. Also, choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Schedule regular dental checkups. See your dentist regularly - generally twice a year. During these checkups, your dentist can look at your teeth or dentures and clean them.
How To Treat Halitosis?
Halitosis treatment depends on the root cause of the issue. For example, if bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene, a dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene at home will likely help.
But if halitosis is a symptom of another condition somewhere else in your body, your dentist can help with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Occasionally, your dentist may recommend special mouth rinses to combat certain bacteria in your mouth.
Conclusion
There is no one treatment for halitosis. The treatment will depend on what is causing the problem. Avoiding dehydration and maintaining good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, are an important part in one’s daily routine to combat bad breath.
Book your consultation today at Franklin Bright Smiles, so that we are able to assist you further.
Bad Breath FAQs : Symptoms, Causes And Treatments
1) Can bad breath be treated permanently?
Yes, with proper diagnosis and management it is indeed possible to get rid of bad breath permanently
2) How much time will it take to clean my teeth?
That will depend on your oral hygiene, but generally the procedure takes about 30-45 mins along with polishing and fluoride application.
3) Do I need to get some additional tests done for bad breath ?
If we feel that to diagnose your underlying condition appropriately, you need additional tests, we would suggest you the same during your consultation appointment.
