Bad Breath…Top Three Causes

If you find your self doing the sniff test or constantly popping a piece of gum or a breath mint to hide your bad breath then you are probably one of the 80 million people that suffers from halitosis or chronic bad breath. There are many causes to bad breath but the biggies are:

1.Poor Oral Hygiene

If you haven’t seen the inside of a dental office in about two-three years, have no idea what floss is or how to use it, and your toothbrush is about as old as you are then you probably fall into this category. Brushing, flossing and regular dental visits are key to removing the plaque, bacteria and debris from your teeth. Your bad breath is being caused by the breakdown and decay of this debris and also from the wastes from the bacteria in your mouth. To prevent this make sure to always brush and floss after you eat and to visit your dentist every 6 months to remove any remaining plaque or calculus your brush and floss can’t reach.

2.Dry mouth (xerostomia)

Dry mouth can be caused by many things, medical problems, medications you may be taking, mouth breathing, or radiation treatment. Saliva is a very important part of your mouths natural way to keep itself clean. Your saliva is constantly washing away food particles and bacteria in your mouth. If you have dry mouth this can allow the bacteria in your mouth to overgrow and food particles to remain and decay causing bad breath. To resolve this the first step is to find out what the cause of your dry mouth is. You should contact your dentist to come up with a good solution to keep your mouth clean.

3.Diet and Nutrition

Another common cause of bad breath is due to your eating habits. Eating spicy foods, coffee, smoking, or eating onions and garlic can cause you to have bad breath for up to 72 hours after ingestion. Also, certain diets such as the Atkins or carb free diets can cause ketosis which gives your breath a sweet smell. Also, fasting and hunger can cause bad breath as well. The only solution to these problems is simply to eat a healthy well balanced diet and if you have an important event its probably a good idea to avoid onions and garlic for about a day or two beforehand. So most importantly, to keep your breath fresh and pleasant its important to brush and floss regularly, see your dentist every six months, keep hydrated, and maintain a healthy and well balanced diet.]]>