Halitosis itself may not be life threatening, but it could be the symptom of a medical condition you should address for your overall health and well-being.
Let us talk about bad breath and what to do about bad breath.
Everyone tries to avoid talking about it and people who have it stop talking altogether , but bad breath is a serious issue. Seriously.
So what is bad breath?
Bad breath, some scientifically-inclined people call it fetor oris is generally a fetid odor that is present in your mouth.
This could be caused by bacterial along and below the gum line. Bacteria can also be on the back of your tongue.
To know if you have gum disease or tooth decay, please see your dentist.
If your dentist does not see any dental problems, then you may be suffering from other conditions that could give you bad breath like:
- esophagus, or
- nasal cavity issues.
Thankfully, halitosis is not always a sign of a serious medical problem.
Simple health habits such as proper brushing and flossing of teeth, plus scraping the back of your tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria can stop halitosis.
Bad breath is a social problem.
Bad breath makes you fearful of going out and meeting or being around people.
It could literally turn you into a recluse!
Finding out the causes and treatments can make you say goodbye to bad breath forever!
Your Mouth Is Literally Bacteria Haven
Studies say that in over 90% of bad breath cases, the problem starts in the mouth.
It is called intra-oral halitosis or oral halitosis.
This is why.
Did you know that over 600 types of bacteria can be found in your mouth?
And did you know that they may be also breeding on the back of your tongue or beneath the gum line?
The bacteria are produced by proteins transforming into amino acids. They break into gases, causing that bad odor coming from your mouth.
Generally, the tongue is the main breeding ground for these bacteria.
But other factors like:
- faulty dental work,
- food gathering areas between and in the teeth,
- dirty dentures
- lesions caused by viral infections such as Herpes and the HPV virus
may contribute to bad breath.
Have you also noticed that you wouldn’t want to talk to anyone when you wake up in the morning because of your morning dragon breath?
When your mouth is exposed to less oxygen, like when you are sleeping, the mouth becomes moist, making it a perfect place for bacteria to grow and replicate, causing the foul odor.
When you are sleeping, the body produces less saliva to wash away food and odors.This results to a dryer mouth, making dead cells adhere to your tongue and other places in the mouth.
Can certain foods cause bad breath?
Garlic, onions, fish, cheese and meat are notorious for giving your mouth the foul smell. Smoking and alcohol are major culprits as well, but taking great care in properly brushing and flossing of your teeth using a special mouthwash can stop halitosis on its tracks.
Some people swear by this product, by the way
Other Causes of Halitosis
Halitosis isn’t life threatening and can be cured, don’t worry.
Regular dental visits and regular cleaning stops cavities and gum disease.
Dentists can also help you address dry mouth and infections which can cause bad breath.
Having a medical check-up when you have a sore or inflamed throat, sinusitis, acid reflux and respiratory infections should also be done.
And oh, don’t ignore it when the foam from your toothpaste turns pink when you are brushing!
Pink foam is caused by red or swollen gums that bleed after flossing or brushing. You may have gingivitis or a gum infection.
Sometimes, a pocket of pus or abscess forms at the gum line or in between your teeth. This may be a bacterial infection. Open sores on the gum or tongue can also cause bad breath.
Stress can also cause dry mouth.
You have dry mouth if you have difficulty speaking, swallowing foods, you feel burning in your mouth area and you have dry eyes.
A simple way to keep your mouth hydrated is to drink lots of water. You can also use sugar-free gums and mints to stimulate the salivary glands.
And oh, sometimes, we don’t know our m