Bad breath (halitosis) can be an unpleasant and embarrassing condition. Many of us may not realize that we have bad breath, but everyone has it from time to time, especially in the morning.
There are various reasons one may have bad breath, but in healthy people, the major reason is due to microbial deposits on the tongue, especially the back of the tongue. Some studies have shown that simply brushing the tongue reduced bad breath by as much as 70 percent.
What may cause bad breath?
- Time of day - When a person sleeps, saliva flow almost stops. The mouth becomes dry and that condition allows microbial deposits to form. So in the morning is a more usual time for bad breath.
- Foods which contain odor-causing compounds enter the bloodstream and are transferred to the lungs which exhale the odors. Garlic and onions are well known for this.
- Not brushing and flossing the teeth allow bacteria to grow and can cause bad breath.
- Disease of the gums - infected gums have deposits of bacteria under them, which cause a bad odor.
- Cavities, bridges and crowns that don't fit can leave spaces for bacteria to breed and cause bad breath.
- Dry mouth (Xerostomia) - may be cause by certain medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous mouth breathing.
- Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco causes dry mouth, again allowing bacteria to grow and contaminate breath.
- Some diets cause bad breath because the chemicals released when the body burns fat are given off in the breath and they smell bad.
Missing meals, hunger, and dehydration can cause bad breath. Chewing increases saliva flow and drinking water washes bacteria away.
- Illnesses can cause bad breath, particularly liver and kidney disease, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infections and diabetes.
It is a good idea to go over your medicines and illnesses with a dentist, who can help you determine if any of those things would cause bad breath. Also helpful is keeping a record of what you eat.
There are several things you can do to prevent bad breath:
- Clean your teeth and mouth - brush twice a day and floss daily. Flossing removes food particles and plaque from between the teeth and under the gums. If you have dentures, you should clean them completely at night and return them to your mouth in the morning.
- Get a check up and tooth cleaning from a dentist at least two times a year. You should have your teeth cleaned more often if you ever had gum disease.
- Twice a year visits to the dentist for check up and cleaning will prevent bad breath. If you have already had gum disease, you should go more often.
- Drink lots of water - it will keep your mouth wet, and wash away microbes.
- Water will keep your mouth moist and help wash away bacteria, so drink lots of water.
In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. If it is determined that your mouth is healthy, but bad breath is persistent, your dentist may refer you to your physician to determine the cause of the odor and an appropriate treatment plan.
There are various reasons one may have bad breath, but in healthy people, the major reason is due to microbial deposits on the tongue, especially the back of the tongue. Some studies have shown that simply brushing the tongue reduced bad breath by as much as 70 percent.
What may cause bad breath?
- Time of day - When a person sleeps, saliva flow almost stops. The mouth becomes dry and that condition allows microbial deposits to form. So in the morning is a more usual time for bad breath.
- Foods which contain odor-causing compounds enter the bloodstream and are transferred to the lungs which exhale the odors. Garlic and onions are well known for this.
- Not brushing and flossing the teeth allow bacteria to grow and can cause bad breath.
- Disease of the gums - infected gums have deposits of bacteria under them, which cause a bad odor.
- Cavities, bridges and crowns that don't fit can leave spaces for bacteria to breed and cause bad breath.
- Dry mouth (Xerostomia) - may be cause by certain medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous mouth breathing.
- Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco causes dry mouth, again allowing bacteria to grow and contaminate breath.
- Some diets cause bad breath because the chemicals released when the body burns fat are given off in the breath and they smell bad.
Missing meals, hunger, and dehydration can cause bad breath. Chewing increases saliva flow and drinking water washes bacteria away.
- Illnesses can cause bad breath, particularly liver and kidney disease, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infections and diabetes.
It is a good idea to go over your medicines and illnesses with a dentist, who can help you determine if any of those things would cause bad breath. Also helpful is keeping a record of what you eat.
There are several things you can do to prevent bad breath:
- Clean your teeth and mouth - brush twice a day and floss daily. Flossing removes food particles and plaque from between the teeth and under the gums. If you have dentures, you should clean them completely at night and return them to your mouth in the morning.
- Get a check up and tooth cleaning from a dentist at least two times a year. You should have your teeth cleaned more often if you ever had gum disease.
- Twice a year visits to the dentist for check up and cleaning will prevent bad breath. If you have already had gum disease, you should go more often.
- Drink lots of water - it will keep your mouth wet, and wash away microbes.
- Water will keep your mouth moist and help wash away bacteria, so drink lots of water.
In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. If it is determined that your mouth is healthy, but bad breath is persistent, your dentist may refer you to your physician to determine the cause of the odor and an appropriate treatment plan.
About the Author:
Secret Weapons for Painless Dentistry by Steven H. Poulos, DDS You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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