Bad Breath

The main reason for bad breath is accumulation of bacteria in mouth. It occurs due to gum decay or plaque too. The food residue that remains in the mouth nurture the bacteria in the mouth. A person having bad breath may not be aware of this. Other people experience it, but they may not tell the affected person, as it would be embarrassing. Mostly family members may reveal this. There is not a single cause for bad breath. Half of the population suffer from this problem at one stage or other. The flavoured foods could cause this. Smoking plays a major role in this. Generally, dental hygiene prevents bad breath.

Are there symptoms for bad breath

The foul smell which emanates while smiling, talking or laughing, indicates bad breath. In some cases, the persons having bad breath feel it by themselves in their respirations.

What are the causes for bad breath

Many causes are there for bad breath. Poor dental hygiene is the major reason. The bacteria in the mouth break down the left out food particles, releasing a gas that has a foul smell. Proper brushing and cleansing the mouth regularly could prevent bad breath. Gum disease or plaque in the mouth causes bad breath.

Bad breath after waking up from sleep is usual. The bacteria are active in the absence of saliva during sleeping hours. This causes break down of food particles and consequently the smell. Food items prepared with onion or garlic have a flavour and it causes bad breath. Beverages cause bad breath. Alcohol is not an exception to this. Certain medicines too become a cause. You can eradicate these causes easily.

Bad breath occurs due to smoking. It leads to gum disease, which aggravates the condition. Throat infection of tonsils can cause bad breath. Indigestion also causes bad breath some times.

How the bad breath is diagnosed

You should ask persons who are sincere to you. If you visit a doctor without shielding your problem, you can get an accurate diagnosis. If the signs relate to gum disease or plaque, the doctor finds it out easily and treats it. When you have some other cause for this, the doctor investigates further to find out the actual cause that could include stomach disorder, diabetes, throat infection, tonsils and kidney problems.

How bad breath is treated

The doctor decides on the treatment after knowing the root cause. The doctor usually advises to maintain dental hygiene by cleaning the mouth and brushing teeth regularly. Flouride toothpastes prevent tooth decay. Brushing should cover all the areas of teeth. Food particles trapped between teeth should be removed. A tongue cleaner should be used to remove the deposits over the tongue. You can use anti-bacterial mouthwash for rinsing the mouth. Thirty minutes after taking an acidic drink, you should not brush the teeth, to prevent tooth erosion. The persons wearing dentures should use separate brushes for cleaning them. They should use soap water and not toothpaste, to clean their dentures.

Can bad breath be prevented

Maintaining oral and dental hygiene is important to prevent bad breath. You should stop smoking and intake of alcohol. Use anti-bacterial mouthwash regularly. Cleaning the teeth and rinsing the mouth after every eating session can prevent bad breath. You can take sugar-free chewing gum after meals to avoid dryness of the mouth.