Bad breath is an embarrassing problem. What's the cause and how do we prevent this? There are actually a lot of causes, this may be a result of poor dental habits, or it could be your unhealthy lifestyle like smoking, your food intake or your diet, or it could be a sign of a health problem and a serious one.
There are actually few common causes of having a bad breath or medically called halitosis. Here are some of them.
Hygiene:
One of the causes of having a bad breath firstly is bad hygiene. After every meal, food particles are in our mouth especially in between our teeth and this causes bad breath if not brushed or flossed. Over time these particles will cause foul odors and encourage bacteria, which leads to gum disease and tooth decay.
Foods:
It could make your dish extra special but some exotic spices that we put in our diet such as garlic, onions, curry and acidic beverages like coffee may cause the stinky smell too. All these foods start to break down in your mouth and brushing and flossing and even mouthwash can only temporarily cover up the odor. When these foods are absorbed in your bloodstream and then to your lungs there is a noticeable smell in your breath.
Lifestyle:
Smoking cannot only stain your teeth, it gives you a foul breath and irritate your gums and worsen tooth decay.
Health problems:
Aside from the common medical condition which causes the persistent bad breath like, gum disease, yeast infections, dry mouth, there are serious illnesses to be aware of like diabetes, liver or kidney disease, and pneumonia.
There are few simple ways to avoid having halitosis.
• Practice good oral care by keeping the mouth clean after every meal by brushing, flossing and mouthwash.
• A regular visit to a dentist - at least twice a year.
• Quit smoking or chewing tobacco-based products.
• Avoid certain spicy foods and drink lots of water.
In worst cases, if bad breath persists, visit your dentist and they can determine the cause. It could be more than just poor habits and hygiene but if the cause is not of oral origin you may be referred to a specialist.
Take time to know what's causing your dental problem before it's too late. It's not just having a good set of tooth and healthy gums, it's also about having a fresh breath.
Bad Breath Causes