Bad breath

6 causes for halitosis and 8 solutions to eliminate it

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is one of the signs that should point you in the direction of a routine check-up with your dentist and may indicate the presence of a dental condition. According to studies, about 50% of adults have experienced bad breath, halitosis, at some point in their lives. 

Menthol mouth spray, chewing gum, mints and other products designed to freshen your breath and fight halitosis (bad breath) are only temporary solutions, as they do not treat the cause, only the effect you experience. 

Certain foods, certain dental conditions and habits (smoking, eating too much spicy food, etc.) can aggravate halitosis. In most cases, unpleasant breath can be combated by correct daily oral hygiene. If daily hygiene is performed rigorously twice a day, please schedule a routine check-up with your dentist.

Some statistics about halitosis worldwide:

• Bad breath affects 1 in 4 people globally;
• The most common cause of halitosis is poor oral hygiene.

* according to the American Academy of Dentistry

What causes bad breath?

Unpleasant breath (halitosis) is different from person to person, depending on the trigger. It is also important to note that one's own perception of halitosis can also be different, with people who have normal breath perceiving it as intense and people who have really intense bad breath not realizing it. As it is difficult to have an objective approach to one's own health, if you notice a problem that persists over a long period of time, the recommendation of medical specialists is to schedule a visit to a specialist doctor.  

Bacteria

Bad breath may be caused by bacterial flora in the oral cavity. Certain types of bacteria can cause halitosis. In fact, the oral cavity is a favorable environment in which hundreds of generally good bacteria grow and live. And when you eat, bacteria also feed on food debris, causing unpleasant-smelling food waste.

Certain food categories

Certain beverages and strong-tasting foods such as coffee, garlic, onions, various exotic spices can cause changes in your breathing and can intensify your breathing (this means you breathe more often and more intensely).

Vicious habits - smoking and tobacco

Smoking is a vicious habit that affects the whole body. A first, easily noticeable effect is on breathing. Among the negative effects of smoking and tobacco on oral health are stained teeth, unpleasant breath, gum disease, or even accelerated tartar build-up. Because smoking also alters your own perception of smell, smokers may not be aware of how their breath smells.

Gum infections

There are situations in which the unpleasant breath, halitosis, does not go away for a long period of time and the taste in the mouth becomes increasingly unpleasant. This is an alarm signal; the body is warning us that something is happening to the soft tissues, that the gums are suffering and there is a possibility that there is a large build-up of tartar and plaque or that periodontal disease has set in.

Dry mouth

In our oral cavity, there is normally an adequate amount of saliva that is constantly working to naturally sanitize our oral cavity. There are also situations where the amount of saliva in the mouth is reduced and cleaning is not complete. Dry mouth, as this condition is known, can be caused by a certain medication, problems with the salivary glands or simply by mouth breathing.

Other medical conditions

Oral infections can cause bad breath. However, if your coordinating dentist has ruled out other causes, and your daily oral hygiene routine is correct, bad breath may be caused by another sinus condition, gastroesophageal reflux, liver or kidney disease, or even diabetes.

Remember. The most important thing is to maintain good daily oral hygiene!

How to get rid of bad breath (halitosis)

Bad breath can be relieved in a simple way - with proper daily oral hygiene:

1. Daily tooth brushing - twice a day for a minimum of 2 minutes helps to remove plaque, preventing tartar build-up and removing food debris from the teeth; 
2. Use auxiliary methods of tooth hygiene as part of your daily dental hygiene ritual at home: dental floss, mouthwash, oral douche;
3. Don't forget to clean your tongue - bacteria in the mouth are spread everywhere, so it's important to make sure you have cleaned all surfaces where food debris can collect; 
4. Control your diet - try to avoid excessive or prolonged consumption of spicy foods or foods with intense taste and odor;
5. Give up vicious habits - limit or stop smoking;
6. Avoid mentholated drops or flavored chewing gum in the evening - these promote high acid and gastric juice secretion and can cause unpleasant breath. Gum also stimulates saliva secretion, which in excess can cause tooth decay;
7. Look after your gum health - periodontal disease causes bad breath. Bacteria accumulate in the gum pockets at the base of the teeth and when left undisturbed they break down and cause halitosis;
8. Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist in advance - make it a habit to visit your dentist every 6 months for routine check-ups and regular prophylaxis.

Stay vigilant and informed when it comes to your body's health! Our body is always sending us signals that our health is deteriorating and that we need to pay more attention to symptoms that, although not painful, as is the case with halitosis, can affect the proper functioning of the oral cavity and can favor the onset of dental conditions that require more complex treatments. 

If you have persistent bad breath for which you have not yet found a solution, the dentists at DENT ESTET recommend a routine check-up at your dentist's office.