Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Halitosis, or bad breath, can be brought on by consuming a particular food, having poor dental health, using tobacco or alcohol, or having a dry mouth. In addition, bad breath might bring anxiety and problems with self-esteem. How to treat your foul breath will depend on what is causing it.
What Causes Bad Breath?
The type of food you eat, the usage of tobacco products, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, and other factors can all contribute to bad breath. A few of these are:
Poor oral hygiene can cause plaque to build up, and the bacteria in plaque give off a bad smell.
Oral health conditions like gum disease, cavities, and other infections in the mouth may also contribute to bad breath.
Infections of the nose, throat, or lungs, diabetes, liver disease, chronic bronchitis, digestive system disturbances, chronic sinusitis, or postnasal drip can all result in bad breath.
Bits of food stuck in the gums and between teeth can also stink. Bacteria degrade food particles and produce odorous volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).
A dry mouth and a lack of saliva; saliva help sweep away food particles, and the lack of saliva results in a dry mouth, which can lead to bad breath, particularly in the morning.
Why Does Morning Breath Smell So Bad?
Poor dental hygiene, and oral conditions including cavities, illnesses, or dry mouth syndrome are the usual causes of morning breath.
Periodontal disease, tooth decay, and other mouth infections contribute to smelly mornings.
Infections of the throat, nose, or lungs and health issues such as diabetes, chronic bronchitis, liver disease, digestive disturbances, postnatal drip, or chronic sinusitis all result in bad breath.
Sleeping habits also influence the frequency and intensity of morning breath. Because saliva production naturally slows down when we sleep, sleeping with an open mouth can cause the mouth to dry out, allowing bacteria to thrive.
How to Avoid Having Bad Morning Smells
Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential by brushing, flossing, and cleaning your tongue at least twice daily. You can also floss if there's food trapped between your teeth after eating.
Staying hydrated will also keep your mouth from becoming too dry. For instance, drinking a glass of water before bed will remove any food particles that could have lingered in your mouth.
Sleeping on your back might cause dry mouth and snoring, so try sleeping on your side instead. Snoring is more likely to occur when you sleep on your back.
6 Tips for Fresher Breath
#1 Drink More Water
Drink plenty of water to keep the mouth wet and prevent a dry mouth. It is better to rinse off food particles and extra oral bacteria in a moist mouth. Germs, as well as food debris decomposing in the mouth, can cause bad breath. The key is to remove them with water. Additionally, reducing saliva production and contributing to dry mouth are cigarette smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption. So, drink a lot of water.
#2 Don't Skip Flossing, Brushing, And Using Mouthwash
A buildup of oral bacteria and poor breath can result from skipping even one brushing, flossing, or rinsing session. Additionally, leaving plaque on the teeth unbrushed might result in tartar, a more complicated form of plaque. Unfortunately, it stinks worse and is more difficult to remove.
#3 Chew Sugarless Gum
If you can't brush your teeth, use sugarless chewing gum to freshen your breath. The mint will temporarily mask your foul breath, and the gum itself will remove extra food particles and oral germs that contribute to bad breath in the first place.
Furthermore, the gum will make you salivate more. The saliva itself aids in clearing the mouth of debris that might cause bad breath.
#4 Avoid Bad Breath-Causing Foods, Especially Garlic and Onions
Avoiding food that causes bad breath is one of the easiest prevention methods. Avoid food with intense flavors like garlic, onions, and others if you want fresh breath. Typically, garlic and onions contain sulfur. While these substances aid in the battle against infections, cancer, and heart disease, they also give off potent scents that can linger in the mouth and result in bad breath.
#5 Scrape Your Tongue
Tongue-scraping is another excellent way to freshen one's breath because scrapers remove the film of stinky bacteria from the tongue. Your tongue contains a large portion of your oral bacteria. As a result, bacteria can linger, breed on the surface of your tongue, transfer to your teeth, and cause cavities and bad breath.
#6 Remember to Visit a Dentist At Least Twice A Year
Always be sure to visit your dentist twice a year. The dentist will ensure your oral health is in good shape so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle and breathe fresher.