What is Bad Breath?
Bad breath is an intolerable odor from a person's mouth. It leads them to have
anxiety and Psychological distress. It's also known as halitosis. It is a common
problem and completely curable by following proper oral hygiene. Anyone can
suffer from bad breath; Research says 1 in 4 people have bad breath regularly.
Causes of Bad Breath
Negligence in Dental Hygiene
After having a meal, We neglect dental hygiene, leading to bad breath.
Breakdown of the food particle is the source of bacteria which stays longer until
we wash the mouth properly. Certain foods like onion, garlic, or other food have
been absorbed quickly into our mouths. It sticks in the gums for longer, leading to
severe bad breath.
Usage of Tobacco Products
Using tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco is the
primary cause of bad breath. Tobacco products have their smell. It will make bad
breath even worse. Also, it causes oral cancer, gum disease, periodontal disease,
irritated gums, and loss of ability to taste.
Xerostomia(Dry Mouth)
A dry mouth is one of the causes of bad breath due to a decrease in saliva
production. As a result, the mouth can't clean itself to remove food particles
behind the teeth and remove debris. Sometimes it happens by taking certain
medicines or breathing by mouth instead of the nose.
Alcohol Consumption
Consuming alcohol makes your mouth dry. It will decrease your saliva production
regularly. It will create a platform for bacteria to build up in this odor.
Digestion Issue
Constipation, Poor digestion can cause an unpleasant odor on the breath.
Another thing that needs to be considered is GERD- Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease-It happens when we experience acid reflux regularly. The reason is
stomach acid pushes up to the esophagus. This acid causes bad breath itself.
Improper Diet
An improper diet like a low-carb diet, flavorful food & drink, high sugar diet will
lead to bad breath. It has a kind of odor, so the bacteria on the tongue interact
with amino acids in the foods and produce smelly sulfur compounds.
Poor Oral Health Care
Poor dental health care, such as brushing and flossing regularly. Because some of
the food's microscopic particles will attach to our teeth, this will be a breeding
habitat for germs. It will produce an odor, which will contribute to poor breath.
Symptoms of Bad Breath
Identifying lousy breath is easy as we know the word implies that if we have a
terrible odor after having regular food, we need to consider this an issue. Some
people are unaware of this bad breath or hesitate to ask their friends and family
about it since it's a common problem. President and founder of Quality Dental
Plan, Dan Marut, says," Ask someone you trust who will give you an honest
answer."
The odor can vary depending on the causes. Sometimes it will worsen in the
morning after eating particular food such as onion and garlic and consuming
alcohol.
We can also do some self-assessment to find the symptoms of this bad breath.
We need to lick our wrists; you can smell it after it dries. If a bad smell occurs,
then it is possible to have halitosis.
Prevention of Bad Breath
Brush the Teeth Twice Daily
After having your meal, brushing your teeth twice a day is the best way to prevent
bacteria from sticking inside the gum. It is the best practice to stay away from bad
breath.
Floss
Flossing daily to prevent bad breath, and make sure to get in between all of your
teeth. We can use an antimicrobial mouthwash to kill bacteria daily. It also
reduces the buildup of food particles and plaque
Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water helps to stay hydrated. As a result, there is less chance of
dry mouth. There is no need to have bad breath if we keep hydrated. It will
increase saliva.
Follow the Proper Diet
Avoid more sugary products, spicy foods, onion, and garlic. It is linked to bad
breath. Reduce consuming drugs, coffee, and alcohol. Having wild foods for
breakfast helps to clean the back of the tongue.
Regular Denture Clean
It is an excellent way to reduce bad breath. We need to clean the dentures regularly to stop the invisible bacteria formation inside the mouth. It is advisable
to change your toothbrush once every three months.
Brush the Tongue
Using a tongue scraper prevents your mouth from drying after having a meal.
Especially for smokers, it helps a lot. Similar to brushing the teeth, there is a
chance of bacteria staying on our tongues. To prevent this, we need to maintain
oral hygiene.
Regular Dental Checkups
It is advisable to visit your dental specialist to examine your teeth at least once
every three months. It helps us identify the problem if we have gum disease,
plaque, or bad breath.
Diagnosis of Bad Breath
Generally, the diagnosis of halitosis varies depending on the person's history and
mouth odor. Dentists will smell your nose, mouth, and tongue to determine the
source of the odor.
There are wide varieties of detectors used to rate an order
BANA Test
It is used to measure the levels of specific enzymes which are
produced by halitosis-causing bacteria.
Halimeter
It is used to detect low levels of sulfur.
Gas Chromatography
This test measures three sulfur compounds Hydrogen
sulfide, Methyl mercaptan, and Dimethyl sulfide.
After finding the cause of the bad breath, the dentist will take further steps to
cure it.
Conclusion
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, such as a healthy diet and avoiding drugs,
smoking, and drinks, will help us prevent bad breath. Especially following oral and
dental hygiene is indispensable since it makes our loved ones closer. Having bad
breath is a common problem and is completely curable in the modern medical
world. We should pay attention to this issue, Need to consult our dentist
immediately. Try to take care of your dental care regularly.
Don't hesitate to contact Sri Sakthi Dental Clinic in Coimbatore for more
information on oral hygiene or to make an appointment.