Bad breath: doctors name causes and ways to deal with it

Each of us has known about the need for good oral hygiene since childhood. Later, we pass this knowledge on to our children when their first tooth appears. Healthy teeth and gums are not only a guarantee of a beautiful smile, but also a way to maintain the health of the whole body, because the presence of a chronic infection in the mouth can lead to serious diseases.

In addition to tooth decay or gum disease, many people complain of bad breath, which worsens their quality of life and significantly reduces self-esteem. OBOZREVATEL has analysed the available information and talked about the causes and ways to eliminate the annoying symptom.

Bad breath is medically known as halitosis. This is not a separate disease, but only a symptom that may indicate the presence of other pathologies. It is usually associated with bad habits or improper oral care, but can also be caused by other factors. OnHealth has identified the main ones.

Low-calorie diet

If you eat a diet that is too low in calories, you may experience bad breath in addition to losing weight.

This happens when low levels of carbohydrates force your body to saturate your brain and other organs with stored fat. During this process, the body releases specific chemicals called ketones that smell like acetone.

Tooth fillings and cracks

Caries is a common problem in dental practice. However, even if your teeth have been treated, fillings can hide damage underneath and can be a hotbed of pathogenic bacteria, which in turn cause bad breath.

Sinus infection

When your body is fighting off an infection, you don't have time to worry about your breath. However, colds, sinus infections, or bronchitis can cause it.

The thing is that when your nose is not breathing well (due to a runny nose or allergies), you breathe through your mouth more often, thus drying out the oral mucosa. Since saliva is the best cleanser in the mouth, if you don't have enough of it, you may develop bad breath.

Ulcer bacteria

In some cases, the cause of odour is not related to the oral cavity. For example, some patients who had stomach problems, namely infected with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which can lead to ulcers, complained of bad breath, which disappeared after treatment. It should be noted that people with gastrointestinal problems have a range of other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, etc.

Back of the tongue

As a rule, we pay most of our attention to brushing our teeth. However, the back of the tongue can be a source of bad breath. The reason is that this part is hard to reach, so bacteria that can grow accumulate there. When they multiply, they combine with neutral or beneficial bacteria and start to smell bad.

Unfortunately, today the only way to solve the problem is to clean not only your teeth, but also to floss and use tongue scrapers.

Heartburn and gastroesophageal disease

Gastroesophageal reflux can cause bad breath. This is either due to the regular return of stomach gases to the oesophagus or reflux-induced postnasal leakage that produces odour. Heartburn is also closely associated with odour in people who wear dentures.

Alcohol and medications

Unlike other liquids, alcohol dries out the mucous membrane. In addition, when drinking alcohol, we often eat fatty and spicy foods or smoke, which also disrupts the production of sufficient saliva. Dry mouth leads to the growth of bacteria and the appearance of an unpleasant odour.

If you smell bad breath after taking certain medications, don't be surprised. There are many medications that reduce saliva production, so drink more or use mouthwash during treatment.

As you can see, there are many causes of bad breath, so in order to get rid of it, you need to establish the cause of its origin.

To prevent the symptom, dentist George Orfaly makes the following recommendations:

Oral hygiene: Brush your teeth in the morning and before bed for 2-3 minutes to thoroughly clean away food debris and plaque. Don't forget the back of the tongue and flossing.

Use a mouthwash: Antiseptic mouthwash can get rid of the bacteria that cause bad breath and prevent tooth decay. The pleasant aroma of the mouthwash will freshen your breath for a while and give you confidence.

Care for dental appliances: if you have dentures or dental bridges, you should not forget to clean them. Follow your dentist's recommendations and treat your appliances regularly before use to prevent bacteria and odour build-up.

Adjust your diet: if you eat a lot of foods with a strong odour (garlic, onions), oral hygiene can only help for a while. Reduce your intake of sweets and strong-smelling foods and balance your menu with fruits and vegetables.

Drink water: bad breath is often caused by the normal drying out of the mucous membranes, so don't lose your water balance. The right amount of water will not only relieve you of the unpleasant symptom, but will also be beneficial for the whole body.

Visit the dentist regularly: preventive examinations for professional cleaning, plaque or tartar removal will help to solve problems with teeth and gums at an early stage and help to get rid of bad breath.

Bad breath can not only confuse and deprive any person of self-confidence, but also indicate the presence of problems in the body. However, a full examination, following simple rules and preventive examinations by specialists can give you a snow-white smile and healthy breath.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL talked about the importance of regular visits to the dentist. Experts noted that plaque and tartar are not easy to get rid of on your own and advised professional cleaning.