If you’ve ever had bad breath on a date, at a job interview or just while talking to a friend, you’re not alone. Research has shown that 50% of adults have or have had bad breath.
What causes bad breath?!
There are hundreds of causes of halitosis. Sometimes bad breath is harmless, but it can also be a sign of a serious disease;
– Bacteria
You can get halitosis at any time because of the hundreds of odor-causing bacteria that are always present in your mouth. Your mouth is also an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. After eating, the food debris left in your mouth feeds the bacteria, and the products they break it down into give off an unpleasant smell;
– Dry mouth
Saliva is very important, because it constantly rinses and cleans the mouth. A dry feeling may be caused by hyposalivation. If not enough saliva is produced, the mouth isn’t cleaned as it should be. Dry mouth may be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems or simply breathing through the mouth;
– Gum disease
Does the bad breath never go away, or does a constant bad taste bother you? This may be a sign of gum disease caused by sticky, caries-causing bacteria;
– Food
Garlic, onions, coffee… the list of foods that cause bad breath is very long – what you eat affects the air you breathe out;
– Smoking
Tobacco stains your teeth, causes bad breath and puts you at risk of many diseases. Tobacco dulls your sense of taste and irritates the gum tissue. Tobacco users are very likely to develop gum disease. Since smoking dulls your sense of smell, you may not know how bad your breath is;
– Medical conditions
Infections in the mouth also cause bad breath. If you brush your teeth regularly and your dentist has ruled out causes related to the mouth, it may be caused by sinusitis, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, or kidney or liver problems;
How to get rid of bad breath?!
– Brush and floss
Brush your teeth twice a day and clean between your teeth with floss to remove all the bacteria that cause bad breath;
– Take care of your tongue
Don’t forget your tongue when caring for your mouth. When you stick out your tongue, you’ll see a white or brown coating at the back. That’s exactly where most of the odor-causing bacteria live. Use a toothbrush or tongue cleaner to remove them;
– Mouthwash
Many mouthwashes can remove or temporarily mask bad breath, but this is only a temporary solution. The longer food debris stays in your mouth, the more likely bad breath becomes;
– Clean your dentures
If you have removable dentures, take them out before bed, clean them and store them, and clean them well again in the morning before putting them in;
– Saliva matters
To produce more saliva, try to eat healthy foods that need a lot of chewing, such as carrots or apples. You can also chew sugar-free gum;
– Stop using tobacco
Getting rid of a bad habit is good for your body: not only will your breath be better, your quality of life will improve too;
– See your dentist often
If you’re worried about what’s causing your bad breath, see a dentist. Regular check-ups allow your dentist to detect problems such as gum disease and dry mouth in time and stop them before they become bigger problems.
