What causes bad breath: treatment and prevention
Most of us have come across bad breath, whether in conversation with someone else or in ourselves. It is something that can put real distance between two people talking.
Bad breath affects confidence and social life, and it can point to health problems. Halitosis, to use the medical term, can lead to a range of difficulties, psychological as well as physical.
Fortunately there are several ways to deal with it. To deal with it successfully, though, the real cause has to be established first.
How does bad breath arise?
A number of things can cause halitosis. One of them is very simple: plain dehydration. If you drink too little, the body produces less saliva, and with less saliva bacteria stay in the mouth much longer and in time start to cause an odour.
The biggest and commonest cause, though, is a build-up of plaque bacteria around and between the teeth. Left to accumulate, plaque bacteria lead to decay or gum disease. Plaque is a sticky, colourless film full of bacteria that forms on the teeth continuously. The bacteria produce toxins that irritate the gums and in time reach the root of the tooth.
If a tooth is exposed to these bacteria for long enough, it begins to lose its support, and eventually the whole tooth is lost.
Hygiene-related causes of bad breath
In essence, what we eat decides how our breath smells. Food such as garlic or onion has a marked effect. What we eat is absorbed into the blood and carried to the lungs, and as we breathe out through nose and mouth we release the odours that food creates.
Brushing and flossing, even done regularly, can only mask the smell that certain foods produce. The only way that kind of odour goes is when the absorbed food has cleared from the blood entirely.
Irregular dental hygiene alone can of course cause bad breath. Particles of food left between the teeth, on the tongue and in the mouth let large numbers of bacteria build up, and as those bacteria break the food down they produce the vapours behind the odour.
How can bad breath be prevented?
The best way to prevent bad breath is to remove the cause. What every dentist recommends is looking after your teeth, and your general health. It is worth adding that seeing a dentist regularly, and having tartar removed, matter here.
What to do:
- Brush regularly, at least twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean the tongue gently but thoroughly, to remove the bacteria that collect on it.
- Use floss to remove food particles from places a brush cannot reach, and to remove plaque.
- See a dentist regularly for check-ups, and have a professional clean from time to time.
Advice on preventing bad breath
Best of all is for it not to arise. There are several things worth doing regularly that help prevent it.
- Avoid strong and spicy food, garlic and onion in particular. Drinks such as coffee and alcohol are also worth avoiding or cutting down.
- Drink plenty of water: staying hydrated washes away the bacteria and dead cells in the mouth that directly cause the odour.
- Do not smoke, or stop if you do. Smoking and chewing tobacco cause bad breath as well as staining.
The signs of bad breath
Bad breath varies with whatever is causing it. People who have it often do not notice, so those around them are the best indication. Equally, people who do not have it often worry about it a great deal. The best way to find out is to ask a friend or someone close to you.
Before seeing a dentist about bad breath, it is worth reviewing and changing a few habits first. Better dental and oral hygiene, a change of diet and drinking enough can all improve matters. If they do not, that is the point to ask a dentist for help.
Halitosis can also arise from a gastrointestinal infection, or an infection of the chest or throat. Only a professional can interpret that, and direct you to the right treatment.
Natural ways of preventing bad breath
Besides the various products, fresheners, sweets and chewing gums, there are several natural ways of improving your breath. Freshening the breath means clearing bacteria from the mouth, and a number of things you have to hand will do that.
- Cinnamon smells pleasant and is antibacterial as well. Large amounts at once are not a good idea, though.
- Mint and aloe vera products freshen the breath. Both plants are known for killing bacteria and fungi, so they can improve matters.
- Lemongrass and lemon balm, and concentrated oils of either, also help with bad breath.
- Clove smells faintly of the dental surgery, but it too kills a good deal of the bacteria living in your mouth.
- Rinsing the mouth with green mint tea two or three times a day can improve the breath considerably.