Many patients come to my clinic complaining of bad breath, and the first question I ask them is: Do you brush twice a day and clean your tongue after brushing? Most of the times, the answer is NO ....And this is the single most important contributing factor leading to bad breath.
Apart from this, following are the other common causes of Bad Breath along with the ways to avoid them:-
Eating Habits:- Consuming food containing ingredients like garlic, onions etc and diet rich in fat and meat/fish can lead to Bad Breath. Also, missing meals, fasting can cause "hunger breath".
Solution:- Increase intake of fibrous foods and acidic fruits such as oranges and lemons. Avoid skipping meals. During fasting, increase your intake of water/juices.
Dry Mouth:- Saliva is necessary to moisten and cleanse the plaque and prevent sticking of food in the mouth. If not removed, the food debris decomposes and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may also be caused by the side effects of various medications.
Solution:- Drink plenty of water. You may also chew sugarfree chewing gums to enhance saliva production.
Oral Hygiene:- Poor Oral hygiene may lead to plaque deposition and in turn cause Bad Breath. If you don't brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promotes bacterial growth and in turn causes bad breath.
Solution:- Brush twice a day to remove food debris and plaque. Don't forget to clean the tongue, too. At night, brushing is crucial as there is little flow of saliva during sleep, and coupled with debris in the mouth, can lead to bad breath in the morning. Replace your toothbrush every two to three months. Use floss to remove food particles and plaque between teeth once a day. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning.
Lifestyle:- Alcohol, Smoking and/or chewing tobacco-based products can also cause bad breath apart from teeth stains, swollen gums and reduced ability to taste food.
Solution:- The best way is to quit all these habits.
Medical History:- Respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, sinus infections, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, constipation and liver or kidney problems.
Solution:- If we find that your mouth is healthy and the odor is not of oral origin, we will refer you to a physician to treat the underlying condition.
Pregnancy:- Hormonal changes can lead to bad breath. For complete information check out our Blog "Pregnancy and Dental Health".
Other Causes:- Other dental causes of bad breath include poorly fitting dental appliances, yeast infections of the mouth, dental caries and gum problems
Solution:- If you get a bad taste in your mouth, it may be a sign of gum diseases or a tooth decay. Go for regular dental check-up to make sure that everything is OK.
Further, I will like to briefly discuss on mouthwash usage also. Generally, mouthwashes only temporarily mask bad breath and may not be a long term solution. In fact, many often contain sugar and alcohol, which may lead to tooth decay and may aggravate certain mouth conditions.
On the other hand, there are several antiseptic mouth-rinse products available that instead of simply masking breath odor kill the germs that cause bad breath. So be very careful in choosing a mouthwash.
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