Halitosis, the medical term used for bad breath, is either due to bacterial growth in the mouth especially in the back of tongue or may also be a symptom of any other health problem in the body. Bad breath is quite embarrassing but can be solved with simple remedies when the causes are known. Oswal dental clinic, one of the best dental clinics in Pune, shares the causes for bad breath and ways to cure it.
Bad breath may originate from mouth, tonsils or also from throat. The main causes of bad breath are
• Poor oral hygiene
• Gum diseases
• Respiratory tract infections because of sore throat, runny nose, mucus, and swollen glands.
• Certain type of food like garlic, onion and beverages like coffee and tea
• Bacterial growth in the mouth
• Infections in the mouth due to swollen gums, abscess between or at the base of the tooth, or sores
• Infections from loose dentures
• Digestion or gastrointestinal problems
• Unhealthy habits like alcohol and smoking
• Dry mouth
• Tonsils
• Prolonged bad breath may also be symptoms like diabetes, lung problems, liver and also kidney problems.
Tips
• If the cause of bad breath is due to poor oral hygiene or consumption of smelly food, it is very important to maintain proper oral hygiene through proper brushing, flossing, and mouth washing. On few occasions when smelly food is consumed, even good oral hygiene practices may control only the growth of bacteria but not the odor. In these cases it is better to consume cooked garlic or onion rather than their raw form.
• When bad breath is due to bad habits like tobacco chewing, smoking or alcohol, it is always better to quit the habits
• Bad breath due to gum diseases may be addressed by providing apt treatments.
• The cause of bad breath can be addressed when proper medical care is provided for systematic diseases.
• Consuming yogurt or other probiotic aids, and ant acids are helpful in combating bad breath arising out of problems in digestive system.
• For tonsils, salt water gargle helps in arresting infection and bacterial growth.
• When adequate saliva does not get produced to clean the bacteria, it may result in dry mouth and pave way for bad breath. Drinking adequate amount of water helps to solve the problem.
Some handy tips
• Visiting dentists every six months for regular dental examination and cleaning is necessary to maintain a healthy dental health. Cleaning done by professional dentists ensure and maintain oral hygiene.
• Brushing and flossing should be done daily. Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day is recommended. Brushing or scrapping the tongue is as important as brushing the teeth as bacteria that dwells on the tongue causes bad odor.
• Removable dentures, fixed bridges, or crowns should be thoroughly cleaned so that the trapped food particles are cleaned and bacterial growth is avoided.
• Sugar free chewing gum is good when used in limited number as this helps in producing saliva.
• Consume fiber rich food and vegetables to keep the teeth healthy. These kind of food helps in cleaning the debris naturally.
A leading dentist in Pune further adds that if the problem of bad odor persists even after following all oral hygiene methods, , it may be a symptom of an underlying health problems in the body and may recommend visiting your family physician for further investigation.
Dr. Nitin Oswal
Latest posts by Dr. Nitin Oswal (see all)
- Some Treatments for Replacing a Lost Tooth - July 25, 2023
- Benefits of dental implants - July 15, 2023
- Reasons behind Tooth Loss - June 5, 2023